Australia's newly-appointed spinmentor Stuart MacGill has warned the team against bringing in Xavier Dohertyfor the second Test as he feels the left-arm tweaker is "not a Testbowler" and the move would boomerang on the visitors.
"XavierDoherty is a great guy, but he is not a Test bowler," MacGill, who took208 wickets in 47 Tests, told 'The Daily Telegraph'.
"I'm sure heis awesome for the team dynamic and in the past five years I would say he hasbeen in Australia's top three short-form spinners. He is a fantastic short-formbowler, but I don't think Xavier brings that to Test cricket and hisfirst-class record supports my argument," he said.
Macgill saidNathan Lyon, who took four for 244 in the lost opening Test, should be pairedwith all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, the only million-dollar buy of this year's IPLplayers' auction, in the second Test starting in Hyderabad tomorrow.
"In Indiaright now, we can pick Nathan Lyon and Glenn Maxwell. I wasn't convinced aboutMaxwell but after watching the one-day games in the UAE (last August), hethinks he belongs at this level, he is working his butt off, so let's give hima go," he said.
MacGill defended Lyon despite the fact that he was expensivein the opening Test.
"I am goingto ring Nathan before this next Test and have a chat to him. He should beincredibly flattered that India went after him. He was attacked ferociously,but the only reason that they would do that is to try and mess with him,"MacGill said.
"If theycare enough about you to mess with you, that means they think you're a threatand they think you are a good bowler," he reasoned.
"Nathan Lyon got three wickets in thefirst innings. You only need 10. I would be looking at the shortcomings of thebatsmen and the rest of the attack before I look at Nathan.
"I've spokento Nathan before about this ... when things become tough, he has a tendency tobowl too fast and too straight. But in the first Test he bowled well, the ballhe bowled (Sachin) Tendulkar with was superb and he also got (Virat)Kohli," he added.
Macgillmaintained that Lyon would be crucial to Australia's chances of a comeback inthe four-match series.
"The wayIndia batted to him proved to me that they think he's OK. They are trying toupset him and hit him out of the attack. He is being targeted because theyreckon he can bowl and so do I," he said.