News round-up: Sussex lose out on Bevan (9 February 1999)
MICHAEL BEVAN, the Australian Test all-rounder, has pulled out of his commitment to play for Sussex this summer and will be replaced by Michael Di Venuto, a left-handed batsman and fellow countryman
09-Feb-1999
9 February 1999
News round-up: Sussex lose out on Bevan
By Richard Bright
MICHAEL BEVAN, the Australian Test all-rounder, has pulled out of
his commitment to play for Sussex this summer and will be
replaced by Michael Di Venuto, a left-handed batsman and fellow
countryman.
Bevan, who was to be the Sussex vice-captain, is to have a year
off from his original contract because of the World Cup in
England in May and June and has signed a new three-year deal to
return to Hove in 2000.
Darren Lehmann, Yorkshire's overseas player last season, was
angry yesterday after failing to claim a place in the 15-man
Australian party leaving next month for a tour of the West
Indies.
Lehmann and Adam Gilchrist lost the four-man race for
middle-order batting places to Ricky Ponting and Greg Blewett in
a party to be led by either Steve Waugh or Shane Warne.
Lehmann made just 49 runs at an average of 12.25 after being
recalled for the last two Tests against England this summer and
appears to have paid the price for a soft dismissal in the second
innings in Sydney.
"Apart from that I just played aggressively and tried to do all
the things I normally do," Lehmann said. "A couple of times it
didn't come off but to get crucified like that is disappointing.
It's not a great day for me."
Sri Lanka's controversial spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is to stay
on in Australia for an operation on his bowling arm. Team manager
Ranjit Fernando said: "There's a bit of surgery needed. It's very
minor and will be done in a day."
Australian squad: A J Bichel, G S Blewett, A C Dale, M T G
Elliott, J N Gillespie, -I A Healy, J L Langer, S C G MacGill, G
D McGrath, C R Miller, R T Ponting, M J Slater, S K Warne, M E
Waugh, S R Waugh.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)