Australia may play with three spinners, admits captain Cummins

NEW DELHI: On the eve of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Australia captain Pat Cummins admitted the visitors might field three spinners in a five-member bowling attack instead of bringing in Mitchell Starc, who could be passed fit to play.

This rare ploy from Australia means left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and Matthew Kuhnemann are in the mix to play in New Delhi from Friday, alongside the off-spin duo of Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy.

"I think there's a conversation. We'll work that out by the end of today, I hope. He's one of the world's premier bowlers in these types of conditions. We'll see. As I said, the wicket looks like it might turn a little bit."

"I thought last week with two pacers, that attack functioned quite well but I think whether it's Starcy, another spinner, Scott (Boland), variety in the attack does help," he said in the pre-match press conference.

Both Starc and fast-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green, on road to recovery from finger injuries, didn't train on Thursday. On Wednesday, when they trained, they looked in decent touch though they had their share of discomforts while bowling and batting.

"Starcy and Green had good sessions yesterday and we will assess them later on today. We don't have a line through them yet, we'll see," updated Cummins.

Green's inclusion as a fast-bowling all-rounder does provide the flexibility Australia are searching to play three spinners. Green has played five Tests in Asia, averaging 43.16 with the bat and 63.66 with the ball. (IANS)