Australia could prioritise seam ahead of spin in the third Test, with Scott Boland reportedly in the frame for a recall against India in Indore.
Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc are both expected to be fit to return for David Warner and Pat Cummins alongside Nathan Lyon in the bowling attack.
There is every chance either Todd Murphy or Matt Kuhnemann could miss out on a spot in the XI, with cricket.com.au’s Louis Cameron claiming Boland is back in the mix.
Cameron reported Boland was spotted having a “lengthy preparation routine on a centre wicket adjacent to the pitch being prepared for the third Test”.
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Starc to be sole seamer in third Test | 01:17
Lance Morris is another option but Morris reported he was bowling off-spin in the nets to Green, suggesting Boland is the more likely candidate to come in.
Steve Smith said the pitch is “pretty dry at both ends”. Australia is expecting it to turn but there are doubts as to whether it will pay spinning dividends as early as the first two Tests.
Former Australian fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz called on Australia to consider an extra fast bowler over a third spinner earlier in the week.
“I don’t mind – and I’m going out on a limb here I suppose – not taking India on in the spin department,” Kasprowicz said on SENQ Breakfast.
“We don’t need three spinners, if it’s Murphy or Kunhemann (with Lyon), I reckon get Boland in there.
“The reason why is he’ll build up pressure from one end, so from the other end – as we saw in that first Test with Murphy – he was able to take wickets at the because they weren’t scoring (off Boland).
“We’ve got to look to do something else.”
An already understrength Australia will be bolstered by the returns of Starc and Green, although the former admitted earlier in the week he would be playing through “discomfort”.
Starc’s finger is still not 100 per cent after suffering a severe tendon injury during the Boxing Day Test while Green had been battling a broken index finger.
Speaking on Wednesday morning ahead of the opening day’s action, Michael Clarke said it was a “risk” to go into the third Test with injury clouds hanging over Starc and Green.
“My first reaction is that’s great but then I think more about it and there’s a lot of risk that comes with that,” Clarke said on Sky Sports Radio’s ‘The Big Sports Breakfast’.
“Taking two injured bowlers into a Test match to be the only two quicks. Looking at the wicket as well, it looks very similar to what they’ve been playing on so I think they’ll definitely pick three spinners.
“We only had Pat Cummins and I know he had a lot going on, but I think he underused himself in that last Test match. You look at what India’s done, they’ve had two quicks open the bowling and take quick wickets up front and then get their spinners in the game.
“I just hope that Starc and Green pull up OK. If Australia loses the toss and India bat first… I just hope they’re ready.”
‘WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?’: SMITH KEEN TO TURN AROUND FORM
Steve Smith himself confirmed earlier this week that he is battling a degenerative condition in his back, having said he was frustrated with his performances in India.
Smith will lead Australia in the third Test after regular captain Pat Cummins left to be with his ill mother following the team’s second successive defeat.
India have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.
Smith has managed just 71 runs in four innings this series.
He fell lbw for nine in his last outing after a failed sweep shot, triggering an Australian collapse in which eight wickets fell for 28 runs in New Delhi.
Smith’s silly sweep gets punished! | 00:33
“I don’t think there’s been too many times I’ve walked off the field and I’ve gone, ‘what the hell am I doing?’” Smith told reporters.
“I was pretty angry. There hasn’t been too many times in my career where I’ve actually come off and just been bedazzled by what I’ve done. It wasn’t my finest moment.”
Smith is hopeful his leadership can deliver a turnaround.
“It normally brings the best out of me,” he said of the captaincy.
“I’m excited about leading this week in Pat’s absence.
“I know these conditions well. It’s kind of like my second home playing over here, I’ve played a lot in India, I understand the intricacies of the game and what the wickets are likely to do. I’m looking forward to it.”
Smith said the team is yet to finalise their XI but having Green back in the mix gives Australia the option of three spinners on another expected turner.
“What it looked like today is pretty similar to what we’ve seen throughout the series so far,” Smith said of the Indore pitch.
“We’ve got a few more options now with Green and (Mitchell) Starc back. It gives us some flexibility to see which way we want to go.”
DOOR LEFT OPEN FOR INDIA TO UNLEASH YOUNG GUN
Meanwhile, India skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday played down KL Rahul’s removal from the vice-captaincy but kept the door open for a change in team for the third Test.
There have been calls from pundits and former cricketers to bring in 23-year-old opener Shubman Gill in place of Rahul, who has managed 38 runs in three innings of the series.
Rahul, a veteran of 47 Tests, was Rohit’s deputy in the first two Tests but had that role taken off him for the final two matches.
“When we talk about players going through a tough time anyone with potential will be given enough time to prove themselves,” Rohit told reporters.
Rohit added: “His removal of vice-captaincy doesn’t indicate anything as far as Gill and KL both are concerned. All 17-18 (in the squad) are in the reckoning. We have not yet finalised on our XI. I prefer to announce it at the toss.”
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