E-Paper
Kasprowicz up for Australia challenge
Michael Kasprowicz is inspired, not overawed, by the thought of competing for a place with Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee.
Michael Kasprowicz has insisted he is inspired, not overawed, by the thought of competing for a place in Australia's pace attack with Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee.
Kasprowicz, 32, has been something of a 'nearly' man, as a record of just 22 Tests and 25 limited overs internationals since making his debut back in 1995-96 indicates.
But the lion-hearted Queenslander, who has taken 67 Test wickets at 33.46 apiece and 37 at 25.72 in the one-day arena, has seized his chance since being recalled to the Australian squad in October because of Lee's abdominal injury.
In February, on a Colombo pitch notorious for being a pace bowler's graveyard, his five for 45 — including three wickets in an over — helped the world champions to a 40-run one-day series-clinching win against Sri Lanka.
And he was equally effective in July when he took seven for 39 as Australia beat Sri Lanka inside three days at Darwin to win the first Test by 149 runs.
But with the Australian selectors now having the comparatively unusual luxury of having all four quicks fit at the same time, Kasprowicz knows he has a fight on his hands to retain his place.
