SYDNEY, 16 December 2004 — Australia and Pakistan have both delayed naming their teams for the first Test starting in Perth today as they consider adding extra pacemen to their bowling stocks in anticipation of a speed war.
With the WACA pitch notorious for providing extra bounce and speed for the fast bowlers, both teams are waiting until just before the start of play before finalizing their lineups.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he was considering playing four quicks and a spinner. Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-haq is contemplating using three specialist quicks, an all-round seamer and a slow bowler.
Australia have used the pace trio of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz and leg-spinner Shane Warne to great effect recently but may add Brett Lee to their lineup.
Lee is a genuine express bowler and has made a big impression on his team mates since his return from injury in last week’s one-day series with New Zealand. He was 12th man in Australia’s Test series wins over India and the Kiwis but Ponting hinted he may get a recall at the expense of a batsman.
“He’s right in the mix to play in this game, there’s no doubt about that,” Ponting was quoted saying in Perth by Australian Associated Press. “The extra pace and bounce in this wicket and what we’ve seen from him in the couple of one-day games indicate that he’s very, very close to being back to his absolute best.”
Pakistan, beaten by 10 wickets by Western Australia in last week’s warm-up, also have plenty of bowling options.
Shoaib Akhtar, the world’s fastest bowler, will open the attack with Mohammad Sami and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is sure to play. With Danish Kaneria likely to fill the spinner’s role, either paceman Naved-ul-Hasan or left-arm seamer Mohammad Khalil could be included.
Meantime, Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has batted away allegations by former Test great Javed Miandad that he had done nothing to improve the team’s stocks since taking the reins six months ago.
Speaking on the eve of Pakistan’s first of three Tests against Australia due to start at the Western Australian Cricket Association ground here Thursday, Woolmer said Miandad, one of Pakistan’s greatest batsmen, had criticized not only the coach, but the entire side.
“It’s very disappointing that a senior, very respected cricketer (and) past coach of the Pakistan cricket team comes out and criticizes the team, the coach and everyone involved ... that’s basically what he’s doing and I find that rather disappointing coming from someone of his calibre,” the 56-year-old Woolmer said.
