da doce： BRISBANE – England fast bowler Darren Gough was back in cricket’scasualty ward tonight with gloomy hopes of playing in the Ashes seriesas the tourists continued their scratchy preparation for Thursday’sfirst Test.
Michael Crutcher04-Nov-2002BRISBANE – England fast bowler Darren Gough was back in cricket’scasualty ward tonight with gloomy hopes of playing in the Ashes seriesas the tourists continued their scratchy preparation for Thursday’sfirst Test.Gough’s troublesome knee has flared again and young quick StephenHarmison has shin splints, forcing selectors to call tried paceman AlexTudor into the Ashes squad less than 72 hours before the series beginsat the Gabba.That news rounded off a mediocre day for the tourists, who limped to7-322 in their first innings against Queensland (582) when bad lightended the three-day tour match one hour early.The only bright news was the form and fitness of opening batsman MichaelVaughan, who proved he had overcome knee surgery with an impressiveknock of 127, featuring 23 fours and a six.But England will carry more worry than hope into its contest withAustralia after Gough’s latest setback continued a run of outs which hasprevented him from playing a Test for almost 15 months.The 32-year-old reported swelling and discomfort after bowling twospells in the nets at Allan Border Field on Saturday and has been sentto the England Academy in Adelaide for further treatment.Gough had hoped to play for Brisbane club University this weekend tohelp prove his fitness for the second Test in Adelaide from November 21.”At this stage, we can’t put a time-frame on Darren’s recovery and wewill have to wait for further guidance from the specialist as to theextent of his involvement in the rest of the winter tour programme,”England coach Duncan Fletcher said.”Our priority now is to ensure he gets intensive one-on-one treatmentfor his injury and expert medical advice.”Tudor has also had injury problems since he played his first Testagainst Australia four years ago and he was overlooked for this Ashestour after taking 11 wickets at an average of 35.00 in four home Teststhis year.The 25-year-old, who has 26 wickets from nine Tests, was called up fromthe Academy squad and placed on standby for the Test pace attack ofAndrew Caddick, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff.But Vaughan retained a positive outlook tonight as the thunder rolledacross Border Field, saving England from the potential embarrassment offollowing-on on a wicket which both teams described as flatter than anairport runway.”We’ve had three good weeks of hard practice in Australia, where everygame is tough, and all the players are ready for Thursday – the soonerit starts, the better,” Vaughan said.”We’ve gone all right and it was a very hard game for the bowlers herebecause of the flat wicket.”Vaughan was dropped on 45 and 75 by the Queenslanders but he looked incontrol outside those moments, charging to his 27th first-class centuryin 169 balls.No.3 Mark Butcher (45) was also in solid touch while captain NasserHussain was scratchy as he edged to 27 before skying a catch to MichaelKasprowicz from off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.England must improve both its batting and bowling before meeting theAustralians, although the form of Vaughan, Butcher and opening batsmanMarcus Trescothick could pose a genuine challenge for the home team.