Aussie backing for Hogg

Ricky Ponting has dismissed India's criticism of Australia's evolving bowling line-up.

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Ricky Ponting has dismissed India's criticism of Australia's evolving bowling line-up. The world champions and top ranked Test team have undergone a period of transition following the retirements of bowling legends Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Spinner Stuart MacGill has been criticised by Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan of late and India skipper Anil Kumble has now questioned the strength of Brad Hogg ahead of the forthcoming series between the nations. Left-arm spinner Hogg has replaced the injured MacGill in Australia's squad for the four-Test series, but Ponting has no doubt his charge will succeed despite his inexperience at Test level.

Confidence

Ponting said: "A lot of international players have struggled reading Hoggy in one-day cricket especially. "He's undone a lot of guys with his variations in that form of the game and I can't see why it would be any different in Test cricket. "Hoggy is bowling very well, he's very confident, he's been talking up how well he's been bowling right through the summer. He'll do a good job. "If the Indians want to go after him then good because that's probably the best way for us to take wickets as well." Either Hogg or paceman Shaun Tait is expected to be 12th man in Melbourne as India look to become the first team to pull off a series victory in Australia since the West Indies triumphed in 1991-1992.