Cricket: Aussies spin an all-pace attack

SYDNEY - Australian cricket's chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns has raised the possibility of taking four fast bowlers into the first test against New Zealand in Brisbane, starting on November 18.

Hohns said selectors would discuss the make-up of the team this week and suggested the performances in India would have little bearing because of the vastly different conditions.

"We have several options available to us and one is to play four quicks, particularly in Brisbane," Hohns said.

Should the selectors follow that line of thinking it could be good news for Brett Lee, who did not crack the test team in India.

He gets a chance to impress against the Black Caps in their four-day tour match which starts at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

"The other options, if Shane Warne is not fit, include Stuart MacGill, Nathan Hauritz or Cameron White," Hohns said.

The omission of MacGill from the India squad was the off-field talking point of the tour. But, with a 2-1 series win, Hohns said the panel had no regrets about omitting the NSW leg spinner.

The pitch in Brisbane has played with seam, bounce and pace so far this season - like a traditional Gabba wicket.

Warne and MacGill rate Brisbane one of their favourite places to bowl because both enjoy the extra bounce.

Warne's long-time mentor, Terry Jenner, predicted MacGill would be back in the test team this week if Warne's thumb has not healed.

"If Shane's right to play, I would expect he'll be the one spinner and they'd play three quicks," he said.

"But, if not, I'm 99.9 per cent sure they'll pick MacGill.

"If there is no Warne for Brisbane, I would be staggered if they didn't choose MacGill because you wouldn't pick Nathan Hauritz, Michael Clarke or Simon Katich to cover for Warne."

Jenner said he would be surprised if Australia went in without a specialist wrist spinner.

"New Zealand are hanging their hats on that last series here when they went okay against Warne," he said.

"But you look through Shane's record against New Zealand and you'll see that they are vulnerable against wrist spin."

Warne has taken 75 wickets at 25.08 in 15 tests against New Zealand, but in the 2001 series he claimed just six scalps at 71.66 runs apiece.

- NZPA