Potchefstroom (South Africa), Feb. 20 : Young New South Wales opener Phillip Hughes has put his hand up to face South African fast bowler Dale Steyn and company first in the Johannesburg Test next week.

The 20-year-old has told his opening partner Simon Katich he wants to put his nerves to the test by taking strike for the first delivery against South Africa''s pace ace Dale Steyn.

"The young bloke put his hand up for it so he''s definitely got it," Katich said on Thursday in Potchefstroom.

Potchefstroom (South Africa), Feb. 20 : Australian cricket team coach Tim Nielsen is bristling at suggestions from antagonistic South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher that the tourists are too timid with "loopholes" in their squad.

Potchefstroom (South Africa), Feb. 20: Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin believes that batting prodigy Phillip Hughes will be a huge success on the current tour of South Africa and beyond.

Haddin knows Hughes better than any other Australian player and predicts immediate success for his 20-year-old NSW teammate because of his ability.

"He''s one of those players who comes along every now and again that no matter what age they are, the situation of the game or the quality of the opposition just doesn''t seem to faze them," Haddin said.

Potchefstroom, Feb. 20 (ANI): Australian cricket vice-captain Michael Clarke is reportedly suffering from a second injury to his back, putting in doubt his chances of playing in the Johannesburg Test next week.

According to The Australian, the team management is said to be extremely worried about the 27-year-old vice-captain injury.

The batsman and nominal successor to Ricky Ponting has suffered from a lower-back injury for his whole career. Now, he has a separate back injury that has the Australian camp holding its breath and hoping, according to coach Tim Nielsen.

Potchefstroom (South Africa), Feb. 20: Former South African captain Kepler Wessels feels that Australia should consider handing batsman-off-spinner Marcus North his Test debut in place of bowling all-rounder Andrew McDonald in next week''s first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

Wessels believes it is vital for the tourists to play six specialist batsmen against the much vaunted South African pace attack led by Dale Steyn, as he expects conditions to favour fast bowlers.

"It would be a crazy call not to go into the Wanderers Test match with six specialist batsmen," Fox Sports quoted Wessels as telling AAP on Wednesday.

Potchefstroom, Feb. 20 (ANI): Australia's cricket captain Ricky Ponting has ruled himself out of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition this year, saying that he would prefer to devote his time to Australia.

Ponting said that he had conveyed his decision to the management of his IPL franchise Kolkata Knightriders. He said that the latter have accepted his decision and also his commitment to appear for side in the 2010 edition of the tournament.