Symonds set for early return; may be fit for second group match

Sydney, Mar 10 (UNI) Beleagured Australia received a timely boost hours before the start of World Cup as key all-rounder Andrew Symonds was set for return to action earlier than expected.

Symonds initially set himself to take field in the third group match, against South Africa in St Kitts on March 24 but he could now be fit enough to play in Australia's second match, against the Netherlands next week.

Symonds's rehabilitation from surgery to his right biceps has gone so smoothly that team medical staff were having to hold him back from surging ahead of schedule, the Herald Sun reported.

Yesterday, he had a net session receiving throwdowns and began catching practices for the first time since his February 4 surgery.

Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris sounded confident on Symonds' early return.

''The 24th (March) was what we were roughly looking at. If he happens to get ahead of time, we won't discount that,'' Kountouris said.

''He is making good progress. He is meeting all the rehab goals we have set, so he is on target to what we expected. We haven't had any setbacks,'' he said.

''The plan next week is to do the more dangerous things for him, which is throwing, bowling and more aggressive batting.'' Meanwhile, opener Matthew Hayden is all set to play in Wednesday's Australia's World Cup opener against Scotland.

Captain Ricky Ponting said despite Shane Watson's 81 against Zimbabwe and 55 against England in practice matches as an opener, Hayden would slot straight back into the top-order role with Adam Gilchrist once he proved his fitness.

''He (Symnonds) batted for an hour-and-a-half today. He's done a lot of running as well,'' Ponting said of Hayden, who is recovering from a broken toe, after Australia's five-wicket win over England in their final warm-up match.

''He seems to be coming along pretty well. I think right at the moment he would certainly be on track to play that game (against Scotland),'' the skipper added.

Australia arrive in St Kitts on Monday after flying to Jamaica for the opening ceremony tomorrow.

UNI