Michael Clarke decided there was no need to rushallrounder Shane Watson back into the starting lineup if he wasn't fit enoughto bowl, confident that the same Australian team that pushed hard for a resultlate in the drawn series-opener is capable of beating No. 1-ranked South Africain the second test.
Clarke was quick to dismiss any speculation, though, thatWatson's absence from the Adelaide match had anything to do with reportedfriction between the skipper and his deputy.
"We have a great relationship," Clarke told a newsconference Wednesday, on the eve of the second test. "I know there's beentalk of that being a little bit different but Watto and I, our friendship andour professional relationship when it comes to captain and vice-captain, is asclose as I can certainly ask for."
The prospect of Watson playing as a specialist batsman wasconsidered but ruled out by the Australian selectors, with a view to gettingthe allrounder fit for consideration for the third test in Perth next week.
That gave opener David Warner another chance to recover hisform in the long format and Rob Quiney, who went into the Brisbane test as alate replacement for Watson and scored nine runs on debut, an opportunity topress his claims with selectors.
Paceman Ben Hilfenhaus also got a reprieve, with theAustralians opting to stick with the pace trio that was clobbered on theseries-opening day in Brisbane but rallied to get Australia back intocontention after the second day of the match was washed out by rain. Tallleft-arm quick Mitchell Starc was widely tipped to start in place ofHilfenhaus, because he offers variety to the right-arm pace of James Pattinsonand Peter Siddle, but will again has been named as 12th man.
"I thought the bowlers came back really well,"Clarke said. "We took 14 South African wickets, they took five of ours.
"We've got a good combination, we've got a good mixtureof aggression but also bowlers that can bowl long spells and dry runs up ifrequired out there on that wicket."
Offspinner Nathan Lyon will again support the pacemen, butis expected to get more out of the Adelaide pitch, where he worked as agroundsman before making his test debut.
Graeme Smith's South Africans made two changes for thesecond test, both expected.
Legspinner Imran Tahir returns to the starting lineup at theexpense of Rory Kleinveldt, who was introduced as a fifth pace option for aBrisbane pitch that was expected to aid seam bowling but didn't live up to itsreputation, and Faf du Plessis will start in the middle order for JP Duminy,who ruptured his Achilles tendon during a training drill after day one in thefirst test and was ruled out of the series.
Smith expected Tahir to make a valuable contribution inAdelaide, where the pitch is generally flat for the first few days and thenfavors spin. The 33-year-old Tahir made his test debut against Australia atCape Town last year, where he only got to bowl five overs in the match becausethe Australians were skittled for 47 in the second innings.
"Naturally, he'll be anxious to always do well, that'sImran's personality, but he's contributed in key ways for us over the last fewtest matches and his role is important," Smith said. "He understandsthat and not every surface we've played on has offered him the world, but he'sbeen to contribute, which is good.
"Imran is the front-line spinner and we've backedhim."
The South Africans only need to draw the three-match seriesto retain the No. 1 ranking. A draw in Adelaide is highly likely if both teamsbat consistently, meaning the series could be decided on the traditionally fastWACA ground in Perth, where South Africa's pacemen should feature prominently.
Smith said the fact that there was disappointment in thedraw, after being in such a commanding position late on day three in Brisbanewith Australia at 40-3 in reply to 450, showed that South Africa had come along way. The Australians, inspired by Clarke's unbeaten 259, declared in themorning session on the last day with a 115-run lead but South Africa held firmand lost five wickets to salvage a draw.
Clarke said Australia took confidence and momentum from thestrong finish in the first test. But Smith said the wasted opportunities and anunusually below performance from a bowling lineup containing Dale Steyn andVernon Philander — the top 2 ranked fast bowlers in test cricket — and MorneMorkel only proved there was plenty of room for improvement for the tourists.
"For us a disappointment in a draw is good, it showsthat people expect us to play well and to perform well and that's exciting forus," he said. "We come to Adelaide knowing there are a few areaswhere we can definitely improve on and we've had some good discussions aboutthat. In terms of the No. 1 ranking we know it's going to be a process of usperforming well for a period of time and this is the big challenge forus."
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Lineups:
Australia: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Rob Quiney, RickyPonting, Michael Clarke (captain), Mike Hussey Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle,James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Ben Hilfenhaus. 12th man: Mitchell Starc.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, HashimAmla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Faf du Plessis, VernonPhilander, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel.