Queensland has rushed back form all-rounder Ashley Noffke from injury to create an intriguing pace sub-plot in the Pura Cup clash with South Australia on a lively Gabba pitch.

Noffke has made a remarkable return from a torn hamstring to go head to head against Redbacks firebrand Shaun Tait as Australia’s selectors consider picking four quicks for the Boxing Day Test against India.

Tearaway Tait will get ideal bowling conditions to make his first-class return from a lingering elbow problem on Friday with the Gabba well grassed and overcast skies expected.

But Queensland coach Terry Oliver expressed doubts whether the 24-year-old had put his injury concerns behind him sufficiently to be regarded as bona fide option to play at the MCG.

Oliver is an advocate for Australia taking a West Indies-style pace arsenal into the first Test against India and believes Noffke heads a queue also including Tasmanian Ben Hilfenhaus and NSW left-armer Doug Bollinger.

The 2001 Ashes tourist, 30, leads this season’s first-class wicket-taking list with 27 at 16.4 and also has 449 runs at 64.

He will confront a South Australian batting line-up looking to overcome the loss of retired state great Darren Lehmann.

“I rate Noffke ahead of Tait and Hilfenhaus,” Oliver said.

“I see Tait as a work in progress. With his elbow he is yet to prove himself.

“I’m worried about his injury. I heard it was a long-term problem.

“Hilfenhaus had a great year last year but Noffke has jumped ahead of both those.

“He’s got runs and wickets every time he’s played this year.”

Noffke returns early after tearing his hamstring while top-scoring with 82 against Victoria last week, an injury expected to sideline him for a fortnight.

Oliver denied taking any risks with their key man but was overjoyed by his speedy recovery and also the return of Australian one-day all-rounder James Hopes (hamstring).

The Bulls, already smarting from the late loss of opener Matthew Hayden (knee), today also lost Test all-rounder Andrew Symonds after he failed to overcome an ankle problem.

Hayden has been replaced by his Valleys clubmate Nick Kruger, who resembles a young Hayden, for only his second first-class game in five seasons.

Kruger, 24, made his debut as a last-minute call-up in the 2002-03 Pura Cup final against Stephen Waugh’s NSW but hasn’t played for the Bulls since due to three shoulder reconstructions.

Hayden engaged in a long chat with the similarly-built Kruger in the Gabba nets this morning and backed his aggressive approach.

“We all remember back to the final he played he came out a big strong kid, up to the ball,” the big Queenslander said.

“I’ve been excited about him for such a long time because of that approach, a good aggressive opener who can get stuck into an attack and look to dominate.”

The match is particularly important for the injury-riddled Bulls who have slumped to the bottom of the table with just four points from four matches.
South Australia (fourth with 8 points), are coming off a nine-wicket win over Western Australia, but are also well behind the top two of NSW (20) and Victoria (18) who meet at the MCG.

Queensland: Jimmy Maher (capt), Shane Watson, Nick Kruger, Clinton Perren, Chris Simpson, James Hopes, Ashley Noffke, Chris Hartley, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Kasprowicz, Daniel Doran, Aaron Nye (12th man to be named).

South Australia: Nathan Adcock (capt), Matthew Elliott, Shane Deitz, Callum Ferguson, Mark Cosgrove, Andrew Delmont, Graham Manou, Ryan Harris, Jason Gillespie, Dan Cullen, Paul Rofe, Shaun Tait (12th man to be named).

© 2007 AAP

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