Sydney, Feb 21 (ANI): Australia captain Michael Clarke has claimed their decision to play four fast bowlers against India in the Chennai Test, starting on Friday, is not a gamble but a calculated move.
"Australia's inclusion of Nathan Lyon as a lone spinner is a clear consequence of the squad's lack of world-class spin options, but the Test captain said they were not exposing themselves to potential calamity with the radical selection of Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and all-rounder Moises Henriques in such conditions," the Age reports.
Clarke said he doesn't think it is a gamble, adding they have got a really good attack, as they have got three specialist fast bowlers alongside all-rounder in Moises and then they have got their front-line spinner in Lyon and a couple of part-timers in David Warner and himself.
Clarke added personally, he thinks they have covered all bases, and India's team will be a lot different to their, but he thinks they have gone with their strengths and they are backing that when the wicket does deteriorate here, not only will it spin more, it will go up and down more, and reverse swing will play a part as well.
The balance of the Australian XI has been upset by the fact Shane Watson, ordinarily a top-order all-rounder, is taking a break from bowling.
Had the vice-captain been at full capacity, there would be no requirement for Henriques to be thrust into a Test debut and Clarke's team could have instead included a second specialist spinner or the spin-bowling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. (ANI)
