Krejza likely to see off Watson
By Malcolm Conn
December 09, 2008
PERTH's pace-friendly reputation and Jason Krejza's injury concerns have not stopped chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch from endorsing the off-spinner as a likely starter in the first Test against South Africa, beginning next week.
Krejza appears to be the favourite to play ahead of the recalled Shane Watson despite Watson's outstanding Sheffield Shield match for Queensland last week, when he claimed 7-69 and then scored 81.
After missing a one-day match for Tasmania last Saturday because of lingering ankle problems, Krejza must play in Wednesday night's one-day game against South Australia in Adelaide to prove his fitness.
But there seemed little doubt in Hilditch's mind what the final choice would be after the former Australia vice-captain named a predictable XII for the Perth Test, which starts on Wednesday week.
He suggested that playing a fourth fast bowler, Shaun Tait, against India in Perth last summer was a mistake.
"The likelihood is we will play a spinner in Perth. They bowl pretty well there. The breeze suits them, particularly off-spinners. Generally it is a pretty good place to bowl spin," Hilditch said.
While off-spinners bowling into the prevailing Fremantle Doctor do get good drift away from the right-handers, Perth is hardly a happy hunting ground for slow bowlers.
Of Australia's eight current Test venues, including Darwin and Cairns, Shane Warne always found Perth the least spinner-friendly. He had his worst bowling average of any Australian ground there at 36.46.
The last Australia off-spinner to play in Perth was Colin Miller a decade ago, but he was chosen as much for his medium pace into the breeze as his spin.
In the pre-Warne era, Australia often played four fast bowlers in Perth, with Greg Matthews the off-spinner used there before Miller. Matthews bowled two overs for 16 runs against England in 1991.
Krejza has played just one of his 20 Shield matches at the WACA Ground, claiming 2-180 from 45 overs.
Despite a 12-wicket debut during the last Test against India in Nagpur a month ago, Krejza was left out of the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane, where wild storms created seamer-friendly conditions.
Watson played but was dropped for the second Test in more spin-friendly Adelaide and Krejza was set to play his first Test on home soil until badly twisting an ankle at training two days before the match.
Nathan Hauritz was rushed in as a replacement and did a serviceable job, claiming two wickets in each innings against the weak Kiwi batting line-up.
"It would be better if he (Krejza) bowled more overs, there's no doubt about that, but the reality is he hadn't bowled much in India before he got his chance and was ready to take it," Hilditch said.
"I am sure he has been doing the hard work in the background and will be ready.
"As I have always said it is always our preferred option to have a specialist spinner in any Test side in nearly all conditions. It is rare not to."
South Africa captain Graeme Smith is confused about Krejza's fitness but endorsed the philosophy of playing a spinner on almost all occasions.
It has worked for South Africa over the past two years, with left-arm finger spinner Paul Harris playing 18 of South Africa's last 22 Tests, claiming 47 wickets at 32.62.
"It's a brave move not to play a spinner in any game," Smith said.
"We've really tried to back our spinner in recent time, which has proved successful for us in many ways.
"It's going to depend on what the surface looks like next week but I would be surprised if they didn't play a spinner."
Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Jason Krejza, Shane Watson (12th man to be named).
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24772872-23212,00.html
