Boot camp takes its toll on Aussies

MacGill suffered a knee strain while four others also sustained various injuries during the five-day camp, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The commando style training was threatening Australia's Champions Trophy chances with leg-spinner Stuart MacGill reportedly becoming the latest victim of John Buchanan's novel coaching methods.

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MacGill suffered a knee strain while four others also sustained various injuries during the five-day camp in the Queensland bushes, 'Sydney Morning Herald' reported on Tuesday.

Three-time World Cup winners Australia have never won the biennial Champions Trophy which is to be held in India from October 7 to November 5 in 2006.

Michael Clarke is another player understood to have been hurt during the camp, but seemed to have avoided any significant injury.

The Australians were engaged in a number of physically challenging tasks at the boot camp, including abseiling, hiking and midnight orienteering through dense forests.

A Cricket Australia source told the paper that the camp might not have been approved had the board been fully aware of the physical requirements involved in it.