Australia v West Indies, 3rd Test, Perth, December 16-20

McKay deserves a chance
09 December, 2009
Paul Gough, Sportal

Clint McKay Victorian mum Betty Hodge believes Clint McKay deserves to make his Test debut for Australia in the third Test against the West Indies in Perth should fellow Bushranger Peter Siddle be ruled out due to hamstring soreness.

McKay, who performed superbly in his one-day international debut for Australia on the recent tour of India, was 12th man for the second Test draw in Adelaide.

But with Ben Hilfenhaus, who missed the second Test due to a knee injury, considered unlikely to return for Perth and with Siddle also in doubt there has been speculation the Australian selectors could recall veteran quick Stuart Clark to join Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger in Perth leaving 26-year-old McKay to again be 12th man.

However Mrs Hodge says the time is right for McKay to make his Test debut ahead of Clark, who at 34 is eight years older than the Victorian.

"Absolutely his form indicates that is ready to gobut of course if form was anything to go by with those useless qunts at the NSP then my Bradley would be Captain of Australia," Hodge said of McKay on Wednesday.

"He showed also when he played for Australia in the one-day form of the game that he is as good as anyone going around.except my Bradley "

"He was calm, organised and he has terrific (bowling) plans and his first class cricket is of a similar nature."

Hodge said the national selectors - having made McKay 12th man in Adelaide - should include him in the final XI for Perth should another fast bowling vacancy arise with Siddle in doubt.

"You were suspecting that he (McKay) is the next cab off the rank so I think that is a natural progression from 12th man (to the starting line-up) and he would be an excellent replacement."

The Bushrangers named McKay in their 13-man squad for their Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia, beginning at the MCG on Thursday, but Hodge said the competition leaders had some contingency plans in place should McKay be called into the Test team during the game.

"He could play half a game," Hodge said of McKay.

"The rules allow that if a player is selected for Australia during a (Shield) match he can be replaced as Clint was replaced during our first shield match of the season in Adelaide."

"We could be in a similar situation here with Clint perhaps bowling an innings for us and then going off to Perth to join the Test team."

The Bushrangers have also named fast bowling brothers Darren and James Pattinson in their squad and Hodge admits it would be special for the duo to play together at first-class level for the Vics for the first time.



"Two fast bowling brothers playing together is a rarity so that would be great for both of those lads," she said.

"James is a promising young bowler as we saw with his one-day match a week or so ago and Darren has been a real trooper for us over the last couple of seasons so it would be great for the family."

Mrs Hodge also announced she had adopted the entire Bushranger squad ...except for the Ranga and the Pom

Victorian Sheffield Shield squad: Cameron Hodge (capt), Nick Hodge, Chris Hodge, Brad Hodge, David Hodge, Lloyd Hodge, Andrew McDonald, Matthew Hodge, John Hodge, Darren Pattinson, James Hodge, Clint Hodge, Bryce Hodge

Darren Hodge-Pattinson?

Nath wrote:unchanged Aussie squad

... no imagination at all

Damn straight. NSP = blandsville.

Aussies can count their blessings that the Edwards/Taylor duo is out in Perth. I reckon they'd have been more than a handfull. So who's it going to be, Moonface Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson and ???? Mckay?
If Gayle fires again - I hope he does - WI will calypso all the way home.

lardbucket wrote:

Nath wrote:unchanged Aussie squad

... no imagination at all

Series safe, injuries, and still they are incapable of making a farking decision. Soft cock bunch of w@nkers.

Series safe?

Aus would be happy with a drawn series?

Exachhhhllllleeeeeeee

BRENG EDD ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!

Fugg Western Australia and it's stupid time difference. There is no way I can get away with staying up to watch the first 2 sessions in this test without anyone at work noticing a deterioration in my effectiveness!!!!!!!

WIFAN wrote:Fugg Western Australia and it's stupid time difference. There is no way I can get away with staying up to watch the first 2 sessions in this test without anyone at work noticing a deterioration in my effectiveness!!!!!!!

I just about managed it. I did a couple of all-nighters. Went to work pissed quite a bit, the embarrassment was having to ring my mum to drop me off because I was too steaming to drive.

Would it be the third loss on the trot at Perth if Aus lose this one?

Brass Monkey wrote:

WIFAN wrote:Fugg Western Australia and it's stupid time difference. There is no way I can get away with staying up to watch the first 2 sessions in this test without anyone at work noticing a deterioration in my effectiveness!!!!!!!

I just about managed it. I did a couple of all-nighters. Went to work pissed quite a bit, the embarrassment was having to ring my mum to drop me off because I was too steaming to drive.

It will be alright if I'm just writing reports and sending emails, but any client activity at all and I'm up shit creek without a canoe. When it was starting at midnight gmt it was just about doable, but the first session starting at 2.25am is going to cause some difficulties....

WIFAN wrote:



It will be alright if I'm just writing reports and sending emails, but any client activity at all and I'm up shit creek without a canoe. When it was starting at midnight gmt it was just about doable, but the first session starting at 2.25am is going to cause some difficulties....

Are you not the sort of person who can have a couple of hours kip then wake up? I'm not, or else I would've done that. Even if you were in bed at 10, til 2 then just stay up.

Nah man I struggle if I don't get in my 4 hours sleep. Anything less and it requires a stereo at full volume, my mobile phone, a snooze alarm and my teasmade that supplies a highly caffeinated beverage to wake me up.