By IANS
Perth : Australia have opted for an all pace attack by picking Shaun Tait while opener Chirs Rogers makes his way in the side for an injured Matthew Hayden for the third Test against India starting here Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Rogers will make his Test debut on his home Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground and Tait will play his first match in the series as Australia opted for an all-pace attack for the first time since 1992.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting confirmed Tuesday that Hayden has been ruled out after he batsman failed to overcome soreness in his right hamstring and that selecting him would be a risk in the match, where Australia chase a record 17th successive win. The hosts have also taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four match series and have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“Hayden is not fit, hasn’t come up as you would have noticed by the way he’s moving around the field today. He has not missed a Test since 2000, could run at about 70 percent capacity, but was not worth the risk as he could not call on a runner in the match with an existing injury,” said Ponting.
The decision to drop Hayden was taken after a fitness test with physiotherapist Alex Kountouris here Tuesday, and a meeting with Ponting, coach Tim Nielsen and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.
Spinner Brad Hogg was also eligible to play after India dropped charges of abusive language against him, as a gesture of goodwill to bring normalcy in the two camps, but he will be 12th man.
Ponting said Rogers deserved a chance, as he has been performing well for Western Australia for the last few seasons.
“Rogers will make his debut tomorrow, which is a terrific achievement for him, someone who’s been in the wings for the last couple of years. I’ve just been having a chat to him in the dressing room over whether it’s a good thing to be making your debut on your home soil or not, because I know what it’s like playing home Test matches,” said Ponting.
“He’s obviously very excited and over the moon and has got some good form under his belt leading into the Test match, so it’s a good opportunity for him.”
The Australian captain added that the presence of four fast bowlers – Tait, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark – could rattle India.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that we can, with Tait, Lee and Johnson, rattle them. What it does give us as far as our fast bowling goes is really good balance and a good mix,” said Ponting.