Katich out, Hughes in. A stack of stats.

Update - 1:30pm. Pomting has won the toss. Australia will bat. Play to start at 2:00.  Playing sessions. 2:00-:3:40, tea 3:40-4:00, final session 4:00-7:00

(Update: Screenshot of weather radar, scroll down for stats)

Here is a screenshot of the Sydney weather radar. There is hardly any rain around. Surely they can play in drizzle? I have pointed out roughly where I think the SCG is.

Simon Katich has been ruled out of the 2nd test at Sydney with an elbow injury. Phillip Hughes will take his place and play his first test on home soil. Hughes was extremely unlucky to be dropped and I wish all the best. Let's hope he can walk in and score a century and show everyone how it's done.

Let's take a look at some stats:

Averages
Ricky Ponting averages 70.26 here with 1335 runs in 14 matches with a hige score of 207 and 5 centuries.
Hussey - 343 runs @ 85.75
Michael Clarke hasn't done so well on his home ground, only scorinf 270 runs @ 33.75 and being dismissed by spinners 6 times in 8 innings.

Average Innings scores
1st: 40.08
2nd: 41.81
3rd: 36.25
4th: 37.12

Top scores
Batsmen
R Foster (Eng) 287 - 1903
B Lara (WI) 277 - 1993
W Hammond (Eng) 251 - 1928
DWalters (Aus) 242 - 1969
S Tendulkar (Ind) 241*- 2004

Team
India 7d/705 - 2004
Australia 8d/659 - 1946
England 636 - 1928
Australia 619 - 1969
West Indies 606 -1993

Lowest scores
Australia 42 -1888 
England 45 - 1887
England 65 - 1895
England 77 - 1885 
West Indies 78 - 1952
The lowest score in the last 10 years is 144 by the World XI. Apart from that the lowest score lately is 147 by England in the 2006/2007 Ashes.



Best Bowling
Innings
G Lohmann(Eng) 8/35  - 1887
G Lohman (Eng) 8/58  - 1892
T Richardson (Eng) 8/94 - 1898
A Kumble (Ind) 8/141 - 2004
D Barlow (Eng) 7/40 - 1883

North inured as Victora beat WA.

Marcus North has been injured on a night where not Western Australia were outclassed by Victoria. North's injury isn't too serious and he thinks he should be right for WA's FC match on Tuesday. If he isn't right this may see the Test selectors get easier with Hughes coming back in at opener and Watson moving down to 6.

Victoria scored 5/304 with Brad Hodge smashing another century. WA were bowled out for 213 as Hastings took 4/38.

More at Cricinfo

It will be a big year for... NSW edition.

The Australian domestic season is underway and the home tests start soon. Let's take a look at those players who have an opportunity to push for a place or cement their place in each form of the game. I will be covering 1 or 2 states each day.

David Warner - Had a great Champions Trophy for NSW and averages 28.71 at a strike rate of 140 after 36 games with only 1 not out score. Has played 8 T20 internationals and averages 34.12 for Australia. Has been included in the NSW one-day squad but not the first class squad. Can expect to play more T20 games for Australia and can push for a recall to the ODI squad with some good performances.

Doug Bollinger - Currently playing his 6th ODI and has 8 wickets at a brilliant average of 20.62. Can cement a place with more good performances in India. Has played 1 test and may get a few more this season with good bowling and the current injury crisis facing Australia.

Moises Henriques - Brilliant in the champions trophy and solid in the 2 games he played for Australia. My favourite domestic player. He has a great deal of talent and is slowing getting his batting average up and bowling average down. May have to wait for an injury to Watson to get a test place and is currently behind Hopes in the pecking order for ODIs. Only 22, Moises has a massive future ahead of him in all forms of the game and a great domestic season should see him permanently in the Australian side soon rather than later.

Phillip Hughes - Dudded by the selectors during the Ashes and was dropped with an average of 52. Averages 61 after 50 first class innings'. People seem to think the English bowlers unlocked some great secret by bowling short to him, this is a myth. Bowlers have been doing it to him his whole career. Phillip was unlucky during the Ashes and extremely unlucky to be dropped.

Josh Hazlewood - Only 18 and has only played 1 first class game (against the touring NZ side last year) where he took 4 wickets. Youngest member of Australia's under-19 world cup squad in 2008. Has a lot of potential and if given a chance this year may be able to show what he has.

Brett Lee - Nearly 33 and starting to run out of chances to force his way back in to the test team. Too many injuries lately but has been bowling brilliantly when fit.

Burt Cockley - Has taken 29 first class wickets in just 8 games with 27 of those coming in just 7 games. Being called up by Australia as cover in the current series in India will give this young fast bowler a whole world of confidence and another season like last year might see him being called up to play, not just as cover.

Usman Khawaja - Only 22 but already averages 40 in first class cricket. Has scored 2 centuries and 2 50s in just 17 innings with a high score of 172*. They say most bastmen don't hit their peak until around age 30, if that is so Usman should have a test spot before his career is over.