Pura Cup 2005-06

Hauritz given chance after Doran injury

Cricinfo staff

March 9, 2006

Nathan Hauritz returns to the first-class scene © Getty Images

Nathan Hauritz, the former Test offspinner, will play his first Pura Cup match of the season against Tasmania after Daniel Doran was ruled out with a finger injury. Doran, the legspinner hurt during Queensland's final-sealing victory over Victoria, was cleared of major damage, but the selectors took a conservative approach ahead of the Gabba decider starting from March 24.

Queensland picked Hauritz in the ING Cup this season after he recovered from his fall from Test debutant to club bowler in 2004-05. Hauritz, 24, has collected 29 wickets at 18 in the Brisbane grade competition and Doran's injury also means Craig Philipson will stay with the squad in Hobart.

Michael Di Venuto returns from a back injury for the match starting on Friday, stepping in for Xavier Doherty, who is suffering from a similar problem. The contest is also significant as it will mark the umpire Peter Parker's 100th first-class match. Parker first stood in the 1986 Queensland-Tasmania fixture at the Gabba and he has appeared in six Tests, a record 74 Sheffield Shield-Pura Cup clashes and 20 tour games.

"I wasn't actually aware that I had reached 100, but once I learned I had I was really proud," Parker said. "It's somewhat ironic that I'm umpiring the very same teams in my 100th as I did in my first game back in 1986, but it's fair to say the make-up of the teams is very different. I think David Boon played in my first match."

Queensland Jimmy Maher (capt), Lachlan Stevens, Martin Love, Clinton Perren, Brendan Nash, James Hopes, Chris Hartley, Andy Bichel, Nathan Hauritz, Ashley Noffke, Nathan Rimmington, Craig Philipson.

Tasmania Michael Di Venuto, David Dawson, George Bailey, Michael Bevan, Travis Birt, Dan Marsh (capt), Tim Paine, Sean Clingeleffer (wk), Adam Griffith, Brendan Drew, Brett Geeves, Ben Hilfenhaus.

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