- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz might not have a history of performances at the WACA to draw upon, but he’s confident of bouncing back from an Adelaide Test he wasn’t happy with.
Hauritz has been preferred as the Australian spinner this summer and bowled well in the first Test win in Brisbane taking 3-17 and 2-40, but only managed match figures of 2-179 last week in the drawn second Test in Adelaide.
He has never played a Test at the WACA and only a handful of Sheffield Shield fixtures, but is looking forward to the opportunity despite the sight of Jason Krejza and Monty Panesar copping a battering in recent years.
The doosra could also make another appearance after hardly being a success in Adelaide in the third Test starting Wednesday.
“In one-day cricket the wind has always helped, but four-day cricket hasn’t been real good. I think I’ve hardly taken a wicket here whenever I’ve played. I haven’t played much. I’ve probably only played three games for Queensland,” Hauritz said.
“I haven’t played a game (here) for NSW. But one-day cricket’s always been real helpful – the bounce, the drift and all that sort of thing has been real good. When the doctor’s there it definitely helps.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work on it (doosra).
“I tried it in Adelaide, but no one would have seen it so that’s how well it’s going. We’ll have to wait and see if I can land it a bit better here.”
Hauritz still doesn’t feel he’s cemented his spot in the team and is hoping of doing well on a pitch that many predict will help the quick bowlers, but offer him good drift, pace and bounce.
“Adelaide was a little bit of slower wicket and I didn’t bowl as well as I did in Brisbane. I’m just enjoying playing,” he said.
“It’s good for the time being not to be spoken about, whether or not I should be playing, but I’m happy to keep playing for as long as I can there.”
Peter Siddle didn’t do much at practice in the WACA nets on Sunday, but is likely to take his spot in the team despite a hamstring niggle as the side looks to freshen up after back-to-back Tests.
“That’s just part of the way they prepare for the game. I think it’s no secret that we’ve been playing a lot of cricket lately and our bodies are stiff, but everyone’s going pretty well,” said Hauritz.
“I think Sids is just being very cautious at the moment with his body. He trained fully the other day and had a full hit out the day before that. It’s part of their workload leading into the Test.”
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.