Australia are set to recall spinner Nathan Hauritz for the second Test against South Africa in Melbourne starting on Boxing Day.
Hauritz set to replace first Test flop in Melbourne
Australia are set to recall spinner Nathan Hauritz for the second Test against South Africa in Melbourne starting on Boxing Day.
The Aussies have reacted to their surprise defeat in Perth at the weekend by axing Jason Krejza, who went for 102 in both the Proteas' innings while claiming just a solitary wicket.
Hauritz comes into a 13-man squad along with seamer Ben Hilfenhaus, who with Shane Watson will challenge Peter Siddle for the position of third paceman behind Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson.
"The national selection panel consider that Jason is a potentially fine spin bowler for Australia, but our view is that in Perth we were unable to maintain pressure and to successfully use our fast bowlers we needed to maintain that pressure at the spinner's end," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch told
The Australian.
"Jason has been informed of this reasoning and has been encouraged to continue to be a wicket-taking spin bowler but will return to interstate cricket to further those skills.
"We were impressed with Nathan Hauritz's bowling in the second Test against New Zealand, where he maintained pressure and took wickets and deserves his recall."
Hilfenhaus has played just a single one-day international and two Twenty20 matches for Australia so far, but has impressed the selectors in the Sheffield Shield with 24 wickets at 18.66.
"Ben is in the middle of a successful Sheffield Shield season for Tasmania and has been added primarily because of his ability to swing the ball. He also adds depth as a new ball bowling option."
South Africa successfully chased down 414 in the first Test in Perth, leaving the Australians in danger of losing their first series at home since 1992.
Australia squad: Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Hayden, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson.
