Aussie have clear edge over Mumbai sans Tendulkar, Agarkar

Aussie skipper Steve Waugh said in Mumbai that picking leg spinner Narendra Hirwani in the Indian team for the first Test match was a good ploy.

Speaking to reporters after the nets at the Brabourne Stadium on Wednesday, Waugh said "Hirwani has good experience in test cricket and at the same time none of us have played him and the selectors have done no harm by picking him as he could be a surprise packet."

Asked what he felt about the Indian selectors picking three spinners in the Test squad - Hirwani, Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Sanghvi - Waugh said "I don't know who would be playing in the eleven so I can't comment."

Waugh said the playing eleven for the three-day match against Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai beginning Thursday had not been finalised just yet.

"However, we might field just four bowlers as both Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting can bowl a bit and we are more interested in preparing for the Test series", he added.

The Aussies are likely to leave out off spinner Colin Miller, Michael Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie to accommodate Mark Waugh, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in the final eleven for tomorrow's match.

The Australians hold a clear edge over the Ranji champions sans Sachin Tendulkar and allrounder Ajit Agarkar. Indian coach John Wright and physio Andrew Leipus had requested the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to rest batting maestro Tendulkar and Agarkar so that they could recover from minor injuries in time for the first Test starting at Wankhede Stadium from February 27.

Batsman Jatin Paranjpe and allrounder Robin Morrris, the two replacements, will get a chance to show their mettle.

The home side led by wicketkeeper-batsman Samir Dighe would be looking for runs from the blades of Wasim Jaffer, talented youngster Vinayak Mane, Test discard Vinod Kambli, his deputy Amol Muzumdar and Sairaj Bahutule.

Left arm spinners Nilesh Kulkarni and Rajesh Pawar, off spinner Ramesh Powar and leg spinner Bahutule would be keenly watched by the selectors.

Paras Mhambrey and Sriram Kannan are likely to open Mumbai's attack.

The Australians will be looking for runs from Mark Waugh, Nagpur centurion Justin Langer, Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and skipper Steve Waugh himself.

While McGrath and Damien Fleming are the two new ball bowlers, the man to watch would be the tantalising Shane Warne who has a bag full of tricks for the Indian batsmen.

However, the common man has lost interest in the match due to the absence of Tendulkar and Agarkar.

Their complete recovery in time for the first Test is much more important for the Indian team than anything else and the Mumbai public have to wait till February 27 to see Tendulkar and Agarkar in action.

The teams would be picked from the following players:

Mumbai: Samir Dighe (capt), Amol Muzumdar (vice-capt), Jatin Paranjpe, Wasim Jaffer, Robin Morris, Vinayak Mane, Vinod Kambli, Sairaj Bahutule, Paras Mhambrey, Nilesh Kulkarni, Ramesh Powar, Rajesh Pawar, Sriram Kannan, Swapnil Hazare and Kunal More.

Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist (vice-capt), Damien Fleming, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Michael Kasprowiez, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Colin Miller, Ricky Ponting, Michael Slater, Shane Warne and Mark Waugh. Umpires: A M Saheba (Gujarat) and Dr M S Mahal (Punjab).