Galle, Sri Lanka, Mar 06: Australia faces selection headaches as they finalise their team for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Galle on Monday.Galle, Sri Lanka, Mar 06: Australia faces selection headaches as they finalise their team for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Galle on Monday. The tourists are full of confidence after a winning start to their six-week tour and the selectors now have to make tough choices in both batting and bowling departments. ''It's always a problem when you are picking an Australian team and even more so with this squad,'' Ricky Ponting told reporters, ''We have 15 guys and 14 of those guys can put up their hands up and say that they should be in the test side. They're going to be some hard selections to make". Shane Warne is available after a 12-month drugs ban and Should return alongside fellow leg spinner Stuart Macgill on a turning pitch. In the pace bowling department, Jason Gillespie's name is inked in, leaving Brett Lee, Michael Kasprowizc and Brad Williams fighting for one place if two spinners play.
Lee's sore left ankle is receiving intensive treatment and Australia hopes that he will recover in time after an explosive showing in the warm-up match.
The make-up of the top six poses the trickiest dilemma, with the selectors having to choose two from experienced left-hander Darren Lehmann, all rounder Andrew Symonds and Simon Katich.
Whatever the final eleven will be, Ponting is confident that his team can avenge their 1-0 defeat by Sri Lanka on their last tour in 1999.
''It has always been a hard place for us to come and play but We are improving in these conditions all the time and the guys now know what it takes to do well over here,'' he said.
Bureau Report