Australia ponder selection shake-up for Boxing Day

Australia's selectors could make a radical shake-up to their Test XI as they ponder a strategy that has only been tried once in the past decade.

Speaking two days out from the start of the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand, coach-selector Justin Langer said Australia will consider dropping a batsman and fielding five frontline bowlers if the MCG pitch is as lifeless as it has been in recent years.

The risk of the four-bowler strategy Australia have employed in the first three Tests of the summer was exposed in the opening Domain Test against the Kiwis at Perth Stadium when Josh Hazlewood went down with a hamstring injury early in the match, leaving skipper Tim Paine with just three bowlers to choose from in the exhausting heat.

With bowlers Michael Neser (first-class batting average of 25.13), James Pattinson (23.07), Mitchell Starc (22.53) and Pat Cummins (21.72) also handy with the bat, Langer says the Aussies can cover the loss of a sixth batsman in a move that would likely see Paine bat at No.6 in the order.

As the coach confirmed both David Warner (who has recovered from a knock to his hand at training) and Pattinson (in place of Hazlewood) will play this week, he said he is still flirting with the idea of taking the road less travelled with the make-up of the side.

"The Australian cricket team doesn't usually go down that path of having an extra bowler," said Langer, who first floated the idea of picking just five specialist batsmen in the immediate aftermath of the Perth Test.

"But if we're going to play on a wicket like we have in the last two years or so here at the MCG, we've certainly got to find a way to take 20 wickets.

"If we turn up on Boxing Day and it looks really flat, we've got the flexibility to be able to do it.

"In most circumstances ... we don't play an extra bowler because you don't need to do it."

Australia have picked five frontline bowlers in a Test match just once in the past 10 years; in the 2013 Sydney Test against Sri Lanka, then-gloveman Matthew Wade batted at No.6 and was followed in the order by bowlers Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Starc, Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird.

The strategy bore fruit on that occasion, with Wade scoring an unbeaten century as Australia's last five wickets added 161 runs in the first innings of a five-wicket win.

But the selection approach is so rare that even during Adam Gilchrist's accomplished 96-Test career, he was elevated to No.6 in the order and followed by five frontline bowlers only five times.

And on each of those occasions, a fifth bowler was called on to mitigate the absence of either Glenn McGrath or Shane Warne.

Should Australia take the unconventional route and pick a fifth specialist bowler this week, which would likely be Queenslander Neser for what would be his Test debut, Travis Head would be the obvious candidate to drop out of the side.

Langer has had constant discussions with the MCG's head curator Matthew Page in the lead-up to the match as the venue's centre wicket comes under intense scrutiny following the abandoned Marsh Sheffield Shield match earlier this month.

Image Id: 2E63255386264DE9B0C1AC2627BB68AC Image Caption: Gilchrist batted at No.6 on Australia's 2003 Tour of the West Indies // Getty

And Australia's final side will be determined by the 22 yards of turf that Page and his team produce.

"They've worked really hard," Langer said.

"There's obviously a bit of science and a bit of an art to it. He seems confident it'll be a really good wicket."

Meanwhile, Langer said Warner is a certain starter for Boxing Day despite being struck on the left hand during a net session at the MCG on Monday.

The 33-year-old batted in the nets again on Tuesday morning and appeared in some discomfort, on occasions removing his left hand from his bat after playing a shot.

But Langer said his opener will be fit to play.

"I've got absolutely no worries that he'll be raring to go," Langer said.

"There was a little concern for about two seconds, but then he saw the doctor and he’s hitting balls again.

"He'll be ready to go."

Australia picking five frontline bowlers in Tests since 2000

(bottom six batters listed)

v Sri Lanka, Sydney, 2013: Matthew Wade, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird

v Bangladesh, Fatullah, 2006: Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill

v West Indies, St John’s, 2003: Adam Gilchrist, Andy Bichel, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath

v West Indies, Bridgetown, 2003: Adam Gilchrist, Andy Bichel, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath

v West Indies, Port of Spain, 2003: Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hogg, Andy Bichel, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill

v West Indies, Georgetown, 2003: Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hogg, Andy Bichel, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill

Domain Test Series v New Zealand

Australia squad: David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle

New Zealand: Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson (c)

First Test: Australia won by 296 runs in Perth

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Third Test: January 3-7, SCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)