Cricket World Cup: Australia v Bangladesh at mercy of Cyclone Marcia
Thursday 19 February 2015 10:47, UK
Michael Clarke's return to Australia's starting XI could be delayed as Tropical Cyclone Marcia bears down on Brisbane.
The World Cup joint hosts are due to play Bangladesh on Saturday, but the Gabba is bracing itself for the cyclone to make its forecast path down the Queensland coast, with the anticipated rainstorms already threatening the match.
The category four cyclone is currently off the coast of far north Queensland, and could bring wind gusts of up to 225km/hr.
Australia have been holding training sessions indoors during the storm, restricting the four-time champions' use of the pitch.
"All the weather has done has delayed the naming of the team," said vice-captain Brad Haddin. "We are not sure what we are going to get when we pull the covers up."
The wild weather has also led to speculation that fast bowler Pat Cummins will join Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Johnson, who all played in the opening 111-run win over England at Melbourne last weekend, in the starting side.
"Yeah, there is a possibility," Haddin said. "If there wasn't any weather around that probably would have been slim.
"But it's hard to give you a team or what we are thinking because we are so unsure on what is going to happen with the weather and when they pull the covers up."
The only certainty, said Haddin, is that skipper Michael Clarke will play after overcoming a hamstring injury.
The wicketkeeper wryly pointed out that the assembled reporters would have to start focusing on the World Cup matches now that Clarke’s hamstring was no longer an issue.
"This was the plan for Michael all along, for him to be right for this game," said Haddin.
Stand-in skipper George Bailey is expected to make way for Clarke despite calls for all-rounder Shane Watson to be dropped after his first ball duck in the win over England.
