CLARKE TO HIT STREETS
Michael Clarke will resume jogging on Tuesday in his audacious bid to be fit for the World Cup. The odds are still stacked against the captain leading Australia into the 50-over showpiece, but Clarke is leaving no stone unturned in his rehab. Clarke, who underwent surgery a fortnight ago to repair significant damage to a hamstring tendon, is drawing heart from the positive feedback from his surgeon. "He has brought my program forward by one week, tomorrow I start jogging," Clarke said on Channel Nine's The Cricket Show. "I've seen my surgeon this morning and he's very happy with my progression." Clarke has conceded he will not be fit for Australia's first match of the tournament, against England on February 14, which means his hopes of playing will rest on whether selectors are prepared to enter the World Cup one man down.
PUNTER BACKS MAXWELL
Ricky Ponting is standing by Glenn Maxwell after his bizarre dismissal in the Big Bash, saying the all-rounder has the potential to be Australia's version of Andrew Symonds in this year's World Cup. Maxwell's run of outs continued on Sunday night when he pulled out of a shot mid-stroke and was bowled, leaving Adam Gilchrist and Damien Fleming gobsmacked in the Channel Ten commentary box. Maxwell, who was widely mocked on social media, apologised to Melbourne Stars fans. "Sorry stars fans, not good enough, dumb and sh*t is the only way to describe tonight's events," Maxwell tweeted. Ponting counselled Maxwell recently during his form slump and believes the precociously talented Victoria was being weighed down by expectation. "He's got to find a way within himself to become a consistent cricketer for the Stars and Victoria, and hopefully for Australia," Ponting said on SEN radio. "It's a tough adjustment period for some of these guys but we hope he [Maxwell] can come through the other end of it and make sure he's playing well leading into that World Cup because he's the sort of player, like we had with someone like Andrew Symonds in 2003, that could win a World Cup for Australia."
PATTINSON BACK IN ACTION
James Pattinson is set to make his return to domestic cricket on Tuesday night after being named in the Melbourne Renegades' to face Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash. The firebrand quick is on the comeback trail from another back injury that has forced him to remodel his action. The Victorian has warmed up for his return by playing for Dandenong in Melbourne's grade competition. Pattinson, who is aiming to return for Australia's Test tour of the West Indies in the lead-up to the Ashes, has not played at domestic or international level since the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. The match could also mark the domestic debut for former Australian under-19 all-rounder Ahillen Beadle. Beadle, you may recall, has just one kidney after a nasty accident in a Sydney grade game in 2009 that forced the removal of his other kidney.
SMITH'S BAT SWAP
Homer Simpson had the Wonderbat, and it seems Steve Smith may have stumbled onto something similar. The 25-year-old's golden run has coincided with a change in bats. Since switching to New Balance during the tour of the UAE in October, Smith is averaging nearly 86 in all three forms of the game for Australia. He has made five centuries, including his first in the one-day international arena, and made himself an indispensable part of Australia's 50-over side as well as becoming the country's 45th Test captain.
CRACK IN THE BOX
Steve Smith has also made a minor but important change to his batting equipment during this Test. He's had to wear a new box. His previous protector is in box heaven. It cracked under the pressure of a thunderbolt from Umesh Yadav that crashed into the batsman's groin.
