Mickey Arthur admits difficult selection dilemma in bowling

Australian cricket coach Mickey Arthur conceded that his team made a mistake by not going in with two spinners in the lost opening Test against India but it remains a "difficult" selection dilemma for the second match as well due to the pacers' decent performance.

"That's going to be the million dollar question," Arthur said when asked whether the Aussies would go for a two-pronged spin attack in the Test starting here on March 2.

"It's easy in hindsight having a look at how the wicket ended up, you probably would have liked two spinners on there, however, our quicks took most wickets. We didn't get a massive return from spin in this game. I thought James Pattinson was outstanding, so it's a difficult dilemma," he explained.

Arthur said the visiting side, which lost by eight wickets in the first Test, is not sure about the bowling attack for the second Test.

"Looking at the way it ended up probably two spinners (would have been good) but our quicks were the most likely out there, so I am not sure which way really," he said.

Xavier Doherty is the second spin option for the Australians if they decide to go for more than one slow bowlers.

"I think on wickets like this balls turning into you are just as effective, because you've actually got to play," Arthur was quoted as saying by 'ESPN Cricinfo'.

"You can't leave balls alone. Balls coming into the bat on wickets that have crumbled are almost as tough to play. Ideally you want both, and I did a lot of looking at the England series and they used Panesar a lot," he explained.

Arthur said the opening Test was a massive learning experience for the team's only full-time spinner Nathan Lyon, conceded 244 runs for four wickets.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Sachin Tendulkar deserves to play 200 Tests: Brett Lee

India's 2017 U-17 World Cup bid gets support from FIFA vice president

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan replaces May in ICC Cricket Committee

Kolkata Knight Riders face daunting task against Mumbai Indians