Aussies wait on Tait fitness

Twenty20 / Editor / 18 June 2007 / Leave a Comment

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait is in a race to be fit for September's inaugural Twenty20 World Cup as he requires elbow surgery.

The 24-year-old has injured his right elbow and will go under the knife on Tuesday, which means he will face a battle to be ready for the World Cup, starting on September 11.

Having won the one-day World Cup again and still being ranked as the world's best Test team, it's no surprise that Ricky Ponting's men are the 3.15 favourites to win the top Twenty20 prize.

Speaking about Tait's fitness, Australia's national team physio Alex Kountouris said: "We are hoping he will be back bowling by mid-August."

If Tait fails to make it back in time it would represent a big blow to his country's chances of success, given that he took 23 wickets in the 50-over World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year.

He is hoping to use the tournament to boost his chances of featuring in Australia's home Test series' against Sri Lanka and India this winter, as he currently only has two caps from their ill-fated 2005 Ashes Series in England.