SHARJAH – Australia is considering axing a batsman and playing fivebowlers to cope with extreme conditions in the second cricket Test against Pakistan starting in Sharjah tomorrow.

Michael Donaldson10-Oct-2002SHARJAH – Australia is considering axing a batsman and playing fivebowlers to cope with extreme conditions in the second cricket Testagainst Pakistan starting in Sharjah tomorrow.Australian captain Steve Waugh acknowledged the tactic was a way ofcoping with the heat and humidity which marks this desert venue as oneof the most toughest places to play Tests.Waugh, while emphasising he was no longer a selector when on tour, saidhe would discuss the make-up of the side with chief selector TrevorHohns.The captain admitted the balance of the side had been upset by the calfmuscle injury which ruled out paceman Jason Gillespie.However, the extreme conditions had to be taken into consideration andAdam Gilchrist, with a Test average of over 60, was good enough to beused as a specialist batsman.”Yeah, that’s an option,” Waugh said of moving the West Australianwicket-keeper up to No.6.”Playing five bowlers in a Test match like this when it’s going to behard work for the bowlers in a lot heat – that’s one option that’s beentalked about.”But he gave only a wry smile when asked if it was a likely outcome.If so it would mean Andy Bichel and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz cominginto the side to replace Gillespie and at the expense of one of thebatsmen, possibly Mark Waugh.It would be a bold decision but it’s one the selectors have contemplatedin the past – notably in India last year when they wanted to play threepace bowlers but also wanted to use off-spinner Colin Miller.The downside is that it puts a lot more pressure on wicketkeeperGilchrist.Waugh said playing two spinners and two pace bowlers was an equallytough decision.”We’ve done it before but it’s going to be a bit harder in theseconditions.”Obviously the part-time bowlers would have to do more work because youcan’t be bowling 10-over spells in this heat as a quick – you’d getcarried off.”The conditions make the side more difficult to pick than normal.”In the end, there’s every likelihood Australia will stay conservativeand bring in Bichel for Gillespie, whose absence is the biggest problem.”It’s going to be a big loss without him.”He’s a strike bowler and as a captain I can always rely on him to bowlin the tough stages, he always puts his hand up – he always thinks ofthe team, he’s a big loss.”But we’ve got excellent people to cover – Andy Bichel is great team manand we’ve got Brad Williams flying in.”We’ve got plenty of options – I just don’t know how we’re going toline-up on Friday morning.”Pakistan’s team was more obvious, he said, with legspinner DanishKaneria certain to come in for Mohammad Sami after Pakistan took alopsided attack into the first Test, which Australia won by 41 runs inColombo.Waugh said the biggest threat came from paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who took5-5 in 15 balls during Australia’s second innings to give his side anoutside chance of victory.”We have to come up with a plan to nullify Shoaib Akhtar and his reverseswing,” Waugh said.”We think there is a way but we’re going to keep that to ourselves.”We’ve tossed around a few ideas and there’s one or two plans we’ve comeup with.”He said Shoaib’s ability to swing the ball severely at speeds of 150kphand land it in the right spot was “pretty unique stuff”.”The spells he bowls – I can’t imagine anyone else bowling them.”Shoaib has already proved himself at the venue, taking 10 wickets in thetwo-match series against the West Indies here in January which Pakistanwon convincingly.Waugh warned “there was nothing neutral” about Sharjah, which heconsidered as a home away from home for Pakistan.Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Justin Langer, Matt Hayden, RickyPonting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, BrettLee, Andy Bichel, Nathan Hauritz, Glenn McGrath (12th man TBA)Pakistan: Waqar Younis (capt), Taufeeq Umar, Imran Nazir, Abdur Razzaq,Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faifal Iqbal, Rashid Latif, Saqlain Mushtaq,Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria.