31 July,2009 09:38 AM IST | | AFP
Australia's Graham Manou achieved a career ambition by making his Test debut despite only being included after the toss in the team to play England at Edgbaston on Thursday.
The South Australia wicket-keeper got his extremely late call-up to play in the third Ashes Test after first-choice gloveman Brad Haddin broke a finger in the pre-match warm-up.
Australia have, for several years now, made a big play out of presenting newcomers to the Test side with the baggy green cap.
But such was the haste between Haddin's injury and the start of the match there was no opportunity for Manou, Australia's 411th Test cricketer, to receive the prized item of headgear.
"No, not yet as you can imagine there wasn't a hell of a lot of time before the start of the game, so hopefully I will receive it first thing tomorrow (Friday) morning," Manou told Sky Sports after stumps on Thursday, with Australia 126 for one in their first innings.
Manou (30,) has a reputation as a sound keeper but Haddin's superior batting effectively meant injury alone would see him into the Test side on this tour.
Strong teams - and Australia remain first in the world Test rankings despite a 115-run loss at Lord's which left them 1-0 down in this series with three to play - rarely change their wicket-keeper.
That has certainly been true in recent times with Australia where Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist, who only retired from the five-day format last year, dominated the role between them for two decades.
"I don't think you can put it into words to be honest," said Manou when asked how he felt about his elevation to Test status. "Look hopefully I can wear the baggy green with absolute pride."
Manou's inclusion was arguably even more nerve-wracking for Australia than when fast bowler Glenn McGrath had to pull out after turning his ankle during the warm-up in the last Ashes Test at Edgbaston four years ago.
That was because on Thursday, unlike 2005, the toss had already taken place and the teams exchanged between England captain Andrew Strauss and Australia counterpart Ricky Ponting.
Australia coach Tim Nielsen conceded after Thursday's close that, in the circumstances, Strauss would have been within his rights to refuse the visitors a specialist replacement.
But Strauss, whose sportsmanship has been called into question this series after England appeared to engage in time-wasting during the drawn first Test in Cardiff and he himself claimed a disputed slip catch at Lord's, let Manou take his chance.
Nielsen said Strauss had made a "fine gesture" and a grateful Manou added: "I was actually reading the stories in the local papers about sportsmanship and for Andrew Strauss and the English side to allow us to do what we have done is very sporting."
Fortunately for Manou, and indeed Australia, he did not come into this match 'cold' having kept efficiently and scored 59 in last week's tour fixture against English county side Northamptonshire.
"Luckily I played last week at Northampton and it was nice to go out there and get some rhythm and just the one game," he said.
