Dec. 15: Australia are considering an all-pace bowling attack for the crucial third Ashes Test, but skipper Ricky Ponting admitted on Wednesday that he was still unsure of his best starting lineup.
With less than 24 hours to go, Ponting said he wanted more time before naming his side for the Test at the WACA ground in Perth, which Australia must win to have a chance of regaining the Ashes. England arrived in Perth on Monday 1-0 up in the five-match series saying they knew their best 11, but Australia are still wavering over who to play on what is expected to be a lively pitch.
Little-known left-arm spinner Michael Beer was picked for the Australian squad and looked likely to make his debut, but Ponting seemed to be having doubts at his pre-match press conference. “We haven’t got a team yet, we’ve had a good look at the wicket this afternoon, it’s changed a little bit since we’ve been here today so we want to just want to have a closer look at it again tomorrow before we finalise what our 11 will be,” Ponting said.
Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris had been expected to lead the Australian attack with either struggling Mitchell Johnson or or first Test hat-trick hero Peter Siddle as third seamer and Beer lining up as specialist spinner. But after talking to the WACA head groundsman, Ponting said he wanted to delay his final call.
“It’s different grass than there’s been on the wicket before, so we’ve got a lot of things that we’ve got to think about yet before we finalise it,” he said. “It’s important to actually get a good feel of it tomorrow morning and just see how hard it is on the surface and if there’s any moisture left in the surface before we make a decision.”
Leg-spinning all-rounder Steve Smith will bat at six, Ponting said, and the home side also have all-rounder and opening batsman Shane Watson as a seam bowling option. The last time Australia went into a Test without a specialist spinner was at the WACA in 2008, but Ponting said his four seamers all had something to offer.