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Steve Waugh believes Australia could play both all-rounders Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds in the opening home Test of the summer at the expense of a paceman.
Test cricket’s most capped player said Watson deserved to keep his Test place despite the push for an immediate Symonds return and felt he could play as the third quick at the Gabba.
“I’d be comfortable with that,” Waugh said when asked about using both Queensland all-rounders, adding that Symonds would not have been recalled to the squad if he wasn’t going to play.
“I don’t think they’ve brought Andrew Symonds back into the 13, to be 12th man or 13th.
“He’ll play I’m pretty sure. I think Shane Watson deserves his place in the team so I’m glad I’m not a selector.
“Maybe one of the quicks might make way and Shane Watson can be the third quick.”
It would be a radical ploy, especially with four fast bowlers named in the extended squad, and the Gabba being such a haven for seamers.
But there are fitness and form doubts surrounding new-ball duo Brett Lee (virus) and Stuart Clark (elbow), and Watson bowled with pace and swung the ball to take 4-42 in his last stint in India .
Lee, Clark and left-armer Mitchell Johnson are all expected to be picked ahead of Victorian rookie Peter Siddle, with Jason Krejza to give some variety and balance to the attack with his off-spin.
While Waugh admitted he had concerns about Symonds’ domestic form, where he’s averaging 13 for Queensland this season, the former Test captain felt the world champions were a lesser side without him.
“I think they need his spirit back in the side and the way he carries himself and his enthusiasm, whether he’s form-wise ready to get back into it and mentally, I guess the jury is still out on that,” he said.
The other possible opening for a Symonds-Watson double act surrounds vice-captain Michael Clarke’s health.
Clarke, like Lee, is being monitored after a chest infection severely flared this week through playing in the fourth Test in Nagpur and then almost immediately flying home to Australia.
Australian coach Tim Nielsen said the pair would be assessed when they arrived in Brisbane on Sunday night but denied Symonds had been included as cover for Clarke.
“We picked a squad of 13 with Michael in it,” Nielsen said.
“If Michael didn’t come up I’m sure we’d look at replacing him in the squad.
“We’re not really panicking too much but the challenge would be for the medical staff to keep a close eye on them over the next two days.”
Nielsen played down the growing belief Symonds couldn’t be made 12th man after being recalled to the squad.
But he gave little away by praising the attributes of both all-rounders, as well as Krejza.
“It’s certainly possible (both all-rounders will play),” the coach said. “We’re a long way out and the challenge will be to pick the best side for the conditions.”
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