Skipper Michael Clarke hinted Wednesday he is likely to play spinner Nathan Lyon and leave out one of Australia's three fast bowling newcomers against New Zealand at the Gabba. Clarke, lining for his seventh Test as captain and first at home on Thursday, did not reveal his selected eleven, but suggested left-armer Lyon's finger-spin could get its rewards on the bouncy Gabba strip.
Selectors included four untried players in an initial 12-man squad, including pacemen James Pattinson, Ben Cutting and Mitchell Starc during an injury crisis, along with opening batsman David Warner. Australia have not lost a Test at the Gabba since defeat to a formidable West Indies side in 1988 and Clarke put it down to the familiarity with the traditional pace and bounce of the pitch.
Clarke said the likelihood that senior paceman Mitchell Johnson would be out for the entire Australian summer following expected foot surgery this week, would offer an opportunity to the new crop of pacemen. "No doubt it's an opportunity," he said. "It doesn't matter how you get your chances as a player. It's about grabbing it with both hands.
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