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Slater, Blewett, Kapraout of Aussie shortlist

Australian Cricket Board chief executive Malcolm Speed announced that the national selection committee had nominated a preliminary squad of 19 for the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England.

The final 15-man squad will be named on March 24 after the domestic Sheffield Shield final, the ACB said in a statement.

Attacking opening batsman Michael Slater and in-form South Australian right-hander Greg Blewett are the two surprise omissions from the probables. Pace bowler Michael Kasprowicz and all-rounder Tom Moody have also been ruled out by injury. Pacemen Paul Reiffel and Damien Fleming return to the team.

Reiffel had a facet joint injury of the lower back and then struggled with a recurring groin injury to finally make it to the list of probables. Fleming had a niggling shoulder injury, but has done well to return to the list.

The team looks balanced with wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh opening the batting. Both complement each other well, Gilchrist being the trailblazer whose job is to get the team off to a flying start, while the classical strokeplay of Waugh is supposed to anchor the innings.

In Slater's absence, Stuart Law could be the reserve opening bat, since he has enjoyed much success in that slot for his county in England and is well versed with the conditions there.

The middle order suffers from an embarrassment of riches, what with the lone Tasmanian Ricky Ponting, skipper Steve Waugh, southpaws Darren Lehman and Michael Bevan, one of the finest finishers of the one-day version, besides all-rounders Shane Lee and Ian Harvey.

Shane Lee's abilities as a hard-hitting batsman have never been in doubt, but his brisk seam bowling appears to be what tipped the selectors in his favour. He has been clocked at 135 kmph, which puts him abreast of the current lot of frontline quick bowlers.

The bowling attack seems to be a nice blend of experience and youth. Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie, provided they stay free of injury, will be the spearheads along with Victorian master-tweaker Shane Warne.

Gillespie, dubbed the Silent Assassin, had a hip complaint, bruised heel and, finally, a crook knee to compound matters. But he has got over the injuries and is raring to have a go at the willow-wielders in England.

There will be strong competition for the slots in the bowling department. Reiffel and Fleming will have to vie for the third pace bowler's slot with the economical Adam Dale. Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill's inclusion seems doubtful because English conditions in May, when spinning fingers tend to get numb, are not very conducive for spin bowling. Also, playing two leg-spinners might not be such a good idea in England.

Given this fact, carrying an extra leg-spinner at the expense of a medium-pacer seems iffy. Bradley Young, the left-arm seamer from South Australia who has shown a lot of ability and marked himself out as a trier, might just get the nod ahead of MacGill, simply because he might provide variety to the attack.

The Australians are joint favourites with the powerful South Africans to lift the World Cup at Lord's in June 1999, even though they have not enjoyed much success in the one-day version of the game since losing the 1996 Cup final at Lahore against underdogs Sri Lanka. With a winning percentage of 46.42, having won just 26 of the 56 one-day internationals they have contested since that day, the Aussies have a point or two to prove as they bid to become the first Cup-winning side, after the West Indies, to repeat the title triumph.

The list of probables:

• Stephen Waugh (captain, New South Wales)
• Shane Warne (vice-captain, Victoria)
• Michael Bevan (New South Wales)
• Adam Dale (Queensland)
• Damien Fleming (Victoria)
• Adam Gilchrist (Western Australia)
• Jason Gillespie (South Australia)
• Ian Harvey (Victoria)
• Brendon Julian (Western Australia)
• Stuart Law (Queensland)
• Shane Lee (New South Wales)
• Darren Lehmann (South Australia)
• Stuart MacGill (New South Wales)
• Glenn McGrath (New South Wales)
• Damien Martyn (Western Australia)
• Ricky Ponting (Tasmania)
• Paul Reiffel (Victoria)
• Mark Waugh (New South Wales)
• Bradley Young (South Australia)