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Page last updated at 09:18 GMT, Thursday, 25 December 2008

Australia turn to spinner Hauritz

AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA
Second Test, Fri 26 Dec-Tue 30 Dec
Venue: MCG, Melbourne
Play begins: 2330 GMT on Thursday
Coverage: Live on Sky Sports 1, scorecard on BBC Sport website


Nathan Hauritz is the only change for Australia
Nathan Hauritz is the only change for Australia

Australia off-spinner Nathan Hauritz replaces Jason Krejza for the second Test against South Africa.

Hauritz is the only change for the hosts with Andrew Symonds retaining his place despite struggling with a knee injury during the first Test in Perth.

Australia lost that match by six wickets to go 1-0 behind in the three-Test series.

South Africa are unchanged after batsman Ashwell Prince was not deemed fit enough to be selected.

Visiting coach Mickey Arthur has told his side to stay focused in the wake of a sensational 414-run chase in the first Test.

"The mood is excellent. The guys are in a very good state," said Arthur.

"The victory was well celebrated but the key for us and the message that captain Graeme Smith and I are giving everybody is to stay humble."

Meanwhile, Australia skipper is confident that talismanic all-rounder Symonds's knee is fit enough to play his part.

"The last three or four days it's improved dramatically from where it was at the end of the Perth game," said Ponting.

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"He does feel a lot better with it, he's had a number of scans and a number of experts have a look at it so it is really now just about management through this game and then through the next Test match."

Ponting conceded that Symonds will not be able to bowl his medium-pacers but that he and Michael Clarke will be used to support Hauritz with their off-spin.

"I think there's a bit of an opportunity in this game as well to use him a bit more and Michael Clarke a bit more with their part-time spin to try and keep our quicks a little bit fresher as the day and the game goes on," the skipper added.

"Hopefully Hauritz can do the job that we all want to see from him and hopefully that makes the jobs on the other bowlers in our side just that little bit easier as well," he said.


Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Hauritz. 12th man: Shane Watson.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn. 12th man: To be named.



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see also
Hayden ready to fight for place
24 Dec 08 |  Australia
S Africa run chase stuns Aussies
21 Dec 08 |  Cricket
Clark to miss South Africa Test
14 Dec 08 |  Cricket
Amla stars in Australian warm-up
11 Dec 08 |  Cricket


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