Brisbane (Australia), Nov.23 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has revealed he has two tricky dilemmas ahead of the first Test against West Indies-whether to throw Mitchell Johnson the new ball and how much to bowl Shane Watson.
According to Fox Sports, Johnson and Watson return to the Gabba as key men in the Test team, but still with doubts over how they can best utilise their talent.
Ponting did indicate the traditionally swing-friendly humid Brisbane conditions could work in Johnson's favour, especially after rediscovering confidence late in the Ashes and also bowling well in this month's one-day series win in India.
"He was under pressure right from the start. I think the way he fought his way back through that series was great and I think the way he was playing in the one-day series was fantastic as well.
"The confidence for him should be right. He's back to a place now where he knows really well and he loves bowling at the Gabba," Ponting was quoted as saying on Monday.
Ponting sees Watson as the world-class all-rounder Australia had hoped he'd become.
"Down the track, with Shane's style of play, he's better suited down the middle order and giving us 15 to 20 overs a day as well, that's the sort of cricketer I always thought he'd be," Ponting said.
"What we've seen in the last couple of months opening the batting in one-day cricket and opening in Ashes series he can bat almost anywhere in the order which is terrific for us," he added.
Meanwhile, West Indies captain Chris Gayle will arrive back in Brisbane early Wednesday morning, little more than 24 hours before joining Ponting at the toss for the first Test at the Gabba.
He is rushing back from Jamaica after his mother recovered from a heart scare, which had her admitted to hospital in Kingston last week.
Gayle, 30, does have experience in flying in late for a Test series, having arrived only two days before playing England earlier this year. (ANI)
According to Fox Sports, Johnson and Watson return to the Gabba as key men in the Test team, but still with doubts over how they can best utilise their talent.
Ponting did indicate the traditionally swing-friendly humid Brisbane conditions could work in Johnson's favour, especially after rediscovering confidence late in the Ashes and also bowling well in this month's one-day series win in India.
"He was under pressure right from the start. I think the way he fought his way back through that series was great and I think the way he was playing in the one-day series was fantastic as well.
"The confidence for him should be right. He's back to a place now where he knows really well and he loves bowling at the Gabba," Ponting was quoted as saying on Monday.
Ponting sees Watson as the world-class all-rounder Australia had hoped he'd become.
"Down the track, with Shane's style of play, he's better suited down the middle order and giving us 15 to 20 overs a day as well, that's the sort of cricketer I always thought he'd be," Ponting said.
"What we've seen in the last couple of months opening the batting in one-day cricket and opening in Ashes series he can bat almost anywhere in the order which is terrific for us," he added.
Meanwhile, West Indies captain Chris Gayle will arrive back in Brisbane early Wednesday morning, little more than 24 hours before joining Ponting at the toss for the first Test at the Gabba.
He is rushing back from Jamaica after his mother recovered from a heart scare, which had her admitted to hospital in Kingston last week.
Gayle, 30, does have experience in flying in late for a Test series, having arrived only two days before playing England earlier this year. (ANI)
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