North set to join Oz squad for Adelaide test, Sarwan still in doubt

Adelaide (Australia), Dec.2 (ANI): Middle-order batsman and Western Australia captain Marcus North has been cleared to do duty for Australia in the second test against the West Indies to be played here, but his counterpart in the West Indies squad-Ramnaresh Sarwan-is racing against the clock to play the game.

According to The Courier Mail, North chose to wait until his stomach problem had settled before making the trip from Perth, meaning he missed Australia's Tuesday afternoon training session ahead of the second Test against the West Indies from Friday.

Team mate Peter Siddle said North would be fine to play in the match, which is likely to see Siddle and New South Wales left-arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger share the new ball.

Bollinger will come into the side in place of Ben Hilfenhaus, who is missing the match due to a knee problem he has carried since the end of the Ashes series.

Victorian pace bowler Clint McKay will assume 12th man duties.

A West Indian team spokesman said Sarwan was receiving "round the clock treatment" in order to be fit in time. Should Sarwan prove his readiness, he is likely to force former Queensland batsman Brendan Nash out of the side for Adelaide.

Selectors for the team from the Caribbean are still to name a replacement for fast bowler Jerome Taylor who was sent home from the tour with a stress fracture in his back. (ANI)