Aussies keep Kiwis guessing with spin options as bug hits visitors

Australia kept New Zealand guessing Thursday as they weighed up using a five-pronged bowling attack in the final Test at Sydney.

The home team, who have comfortably won the first two Tests of the three-match series, have called up leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson who could bowl in tandem with Nathan Lyon, depending on a last-minute pitch inspection on Friday.

“We’re just weighing up whether we play the second spinner and if we did, how we would do that,” captain Tim Paine told reporters ahead of the game, where both teams will wear black armbands for the victims of Australia’s raging bushfires.

“As JL (coach Justin Langer) touched on yesterday, I think at the moment it would be likely that we would go unchanged but there’s still a possibility, if we see that wicket tomorrow morning, that we could play another spinner.” If they go with a second spinner, middle-order batsman Matthew Wade is the likely fall guy, after number six Travis Head hit a century in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.

An unchanged side would retain Lyon alongside pace spearheads Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson, who wreaked havoc with the New Zealand batsmen in their 247-run win in Melbourne.

Paine said the team was versatile enough to cope whether they dropped a batsman or a fast bowler.

“Luckily we could probably do both if we had to,” he said. “We’ve got some guys around our squad that could provide quite a bit of flexibility and even with someone like James Pattinson can really lengthen our batting anyway.”

Shane Warne, who has championed Swepson, said in a column for the Sydney Daily Telegraph on Thursday that he would like to see him play in Sydney.

“I watched him during the Test in Melbourne (training) and he’s bowling beautifully,” he said.

“I like his weapons. He’s got a good wrong-un, a good leg-break, some good plans and he understands his game so well.” Australia have been unbeatable this season, winning all four Tests at home -- two each against Pakistan and New Zealand -- after retaining the Ashes in England.

Meanwhile, New Zealand sweated on the fitness of batting kingpin and captain Kane Williamson on Thursday after he and Henry Nicholls missed a second day of training ahead of the final Test against Australia.

Both are battling viral infections as they race to recover for the clash in Sydney, where the visitors are desperate to salvage some pride after being thrashed in the first two Tests. Spinner Mitchell Santner is also unwell and did not practise on Thursday, with batsman Glenn Phillips making a late dash to Sydney Thursday evening as cover.

“It’s up in the air at the moment -- a couple of boys are a little bit crook unfortunately,” said opener Tom Latham, filling in for Williamson in his pre-match press conference.

“They’re having today off, as well as yesterday, so fingers crossed they’ll be right to go tomorrow.

“It’s gone around the team a little bit which obviously isn’t ideal, but fingers crossed, they’re resting up and hopefully they’ll wake up tomorrow morning and be good to go.” If they are not fit, it will leave New Zealand with big problems.

Jeet Raval is the only specialist batsman waiting in the wings, but he has been out of form and was dropped for the last Test in Melbourne.

They also have bowlers Todd Astle, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry and Will Somerville on standby.

Coach Gary Stead stressed Phillips’ inclusion was precautionary and they were still hopeful all players would be fit.

Agence France-Presse