Melbourne, Dec 10 : A backlog of postponed tours and tournaments has made Australia’s cricket team embark on their busiest year on record in 2009, and skipper Ricky Ponting will struggle to spare a weekend for a barbecue. For about a year.

Ponting’s Test, one-day and Twenty20 sides will play up to 140 days of cricket across six countries and be on the road for a whopping 318 days in a gruelling itinerary.

The year includes a four-month tour of the United Kingdom from June to September, in which the ICC Twenty20 World Championship precedes an anticipated Ashes series.

Wellington, Dec. 10 : Umpiring controversies should be kept at a minimum when the first cricket test between New Zealand and West Indies begins Thursday, says New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

The countries'' two-match series is the second on the international calendar to be part of a trial enabling players to appeal decisions.

Rival captains Daniel Vettori and Chris Gayle have the power to refer rejected appeals to the third umpire for his assessment. Batsmen can also ask for a second opinion when they are given out.

Sydney, Dec. 10 : Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke says his team is firmly back on track ahead of the opening Test against South Africa to be played at the WACA next Wednesday.

"The WACA is going to be very fast and bouncy and I think we will be in for a bit of pace from the quicks from both sides. Australia has been very successful on wickets that have bounce and carry and some pace and our record at the WACA and Gabba, where the wickets have been very fast, over the years has been very good," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.

Meldourne, Dec 10 : The Sydney Cricket Ground will turn pink for the third cricket Test against South Africa in aid of the McGrath Foundation.

Former Australian great Glenn McGrath announced a plan to turn the SCG pink with stumps, parts of the outfield and the players' shirts all featuring the Foundation's pink logo for the match starting January 3, The Age reported.

The third day of the Test traditionally known as Ladies Day will be renamed Jane McGrath Day in memory of the former fast bowler''s wife who died from cancer earlier this year.

Fans will also be able to buy pink bandannas with all funds going to the McGrath Foundation.

Melbourne, Dec 10: Australia offspinner Jason Krejza has declared himself fit for the first Test against South Africa next week.

The match starts in Perth on December 17 and Krejza, with a new ankle brace, is already planning a follow-up to his 12-wicket haul in his debut Test in India last month.

Krejza twisted his right ankle during training before the second Test against New Zealand in Adelaide, which ruled him out of the contest. He had been set for a recall after missing out at the Gabba, but his injury gave Nathan Hauritz an unexpected chance.

Melbourne, Dec 10: South African captain Graeme Smith has joined strike bowler Dale Steyn and frontline spinner Paul Harris on the sidelines for the tourists' opening match against Western Australia on Thursday.

Smith will miss the one-dayer at the WACA with an elbow injury, coach Mickey Arthur told reporters on Wednesday.

Steyn, who is nursing a minor hamstring strain, and left-arm spinner Harris, who has had a cast removed from his injured left thumb, will also miss the game, the Daily Telegraph reported.

However, all three are expected to play in the two-day match against a WA XI starting on Friday.

Arthur said the injury to Steyn, the leading bowler in Test cricket in 2008 with 60 wickets, was not serious.