Diary
There's still plenty of cricket ahead for me
By Shaun Tait
Jan 14, 2008, 13:16

It’s been a good summer so far in terms of being part of the Australia squad but to be in the team for Perth against India as we go for the world record would be amazing. 

My form and fitness has been good since November, when I took my career best of 7-29 against Queensland at the Gabba. That got the ball rolling, then I bowled well against the New Zealanders in the one-day series that we won and since then I have been hoping to get a Test, but still being twelfth man in this team is a great thing.

All being well with Perth’s reputation as one of the quicker pitches on the circuit I might get my first home Test but if I don’t I totally understand as it’s pretty hard to change a winning team. But I suppose (Brad Hogg) would also understand if he missed out because of the pace in the wicket.

When I played the Twenty20 match there against New Zealand last month I felt I bowled the quickest I have ever bowled and Brett (Lee) said the same, but the speed gun wasn't switched on unfortunately.

I’m not short of reasons why I want to play. To be part of the team that goes for a world record 17th consecutive win in Test cricket is something to really get excited about and it would be something I would never forget. Even being twelfth man would be good, just to be part of the occasion.

But I really want to play, especially with the final Test being in Adelaide, my home city, so it would be nice to get the opportunity to impress in Perth.

I played against India on their last tour here for Australia A at Hobart. Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag all played in that game and I remember knocking over Sehwag – I had him caught behind. These guys, along with Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, are some of the best batsmen in the world but I don’t fear them. I would really fancy having a go at them in Perth and I don’t see any reason why I couldn’t knock a few of them over. Our bowlers have made pretty easy work of them so far but they are still quality players.  

My fitness is good and the elbow has been fine after the surgery I had last year. I had the elbow drained before the start of the season and followed that with a cortisone injection. I should be having another cortisone in the next two weeks but it’s nothing to worry about as it was always part of the plan to have an injection at the start of the summer, in the middle of the summer and then at the end. The elbow is fine but can get a little achy so we just want to reduce that achy feeling.

Christmas and New Year was fairly quiet. I obviously didn’t manage to get a game and was twelfth man in both the MCG and Sydney Tests; I then had a small break and have played a couple of Twenty20 matches for South Australia since to keep my rhythm in order. There’s still plenty of cricket ahead in this summer so wish me luck.