By John Mehaffey
LONDON, Aug 17 - Tasmanian wicketkeeper Tim Paine
will join the Australia squad as cover for injured reserve
keeper Graham Manou before the fifth and final Ashes test
against England starting at the Oval on Thursday.
A Cricket Australia statement on Monday said Paine would
arrive in Britain on Tuesday. He had been scheduled to fly in
with the other members of the one-day squad on Saturday.
Manou played in the drawn third test in Edgbaston after Brad
Haddin broke a finger before play started on the opening day.
Haddin played in the fourth test at Headingley where Australia
squared the series 1-1.
"Tim will arrive a few days early as a precautionary measure
should Graham Manou's hand injury not recover sufficiently to be
available as a reserve wicketkeeper," said Australian physio
Alex Kountouris. "Brad Haddin is expected to be fully fit for
selection in this match."
Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has said his 136th test is
the most important of his career.
"I have played in 135 test matches but never played in a
match as big as this one," Ponting wrote in his Daily Telegraph
column. "There is nothing bigger than a deciding test in an
Ashes series."
DETERMINED AUSTRALIANS
Ponting has consistently deflected questions about
Australia's defeat in the memorable 2005 series but he conceded
how much losing the Ashes after 16 years had hurt.
"The only motivation I need this week is the memory of
having to search out Michael Vaughan, congratulate him and shake
hands at the end of the Ashes series of four years ago," he
wrote.
"We made sure we stood outside and watched the ticker tape,
the popping of champagne corks and the fireworks. We made sure
we took it all in to make us better and stronger for the next
time we played in 2006-07."
Australia won the return series 5-0 and they are determined
to go all out for victory at the Oval even though a draw would
ensure they retained the Ashes.
"It is a huge week," opener Simon Katich told reporters
after the Australians' final warmup match at the weekend. "I
remember the last time very well, we were sort of hoping to get
back in the series at the Oval and nearly managed to do that.
"But nearly is not good enough. It was a great series but is
remembered for the wrong reasons from our point of view. This
time around we have the chance to really go in and get on top
early and make the most of the opportunity."
(Editing by Kevin Fylan; to query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)