Ponting comes out in MacGill's support

MELBOURNE, November 21: Despite an unimpressive display against Sri Lanka in Hobart, leg-spinner Stuart MacGill should be an automatic inclusion for the first Test against India if he is fit, captain Ricky Ponting has said.
MacGill was troubled by a nerve problem that made it difficult to grip the ball during the last innings of the Test. His cause was further hampered as fluid gathered on the knee that had not completely recovered after the operation he underwent in September.
But Ponting said he was happy with the tweaker's efforts in the first three innings of the series and hoped he will recover with a a six-week break before the Melbourne Test against India starting December 26.
"I was pretty impressed with what he did in Brisbane and even in the first innings in Hobart he bowled reasonably well. If he gets his body right and he's fit, he will probably stay the No 1 choice spinner."
However, the skipper noted that left-arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg was in the best form of his life.
"No doubt he (MacGill) has carried a few things in this game with his finger (the nerve problem) and his leg has given him a few troubles here, but he's got a few weeks to get his body in the best shape he possibly can," Ponting said.
"It's up to everyone back in New South Wales, and probably (Australian team physiotherapist Alex) Kountouris, to keep a pretty close eye on him and see how his body is progressing for Boxing Day," he added.
Kountouris, meanwhile, indicated that MacGill was not fully prepared coming into the series against Sri Lanka.
"He needs a little bit of love and attention. His rehabilitation was a bit rushed as he played a Pura Cup match before the Tests, but I'm sure he will be right with a bit of rest," 'The Australian' quoted Kountouris as saying.
MacGill plays only one form of the game these days and Ponting was not sure how he will utilise the time off.
"I'm not sure how much cricket he's going to get under his belt or if he's better off just trying to have a few weeks off and get his body right," he said.
Coach Tim Nielsen pointed out that MacGill has to be fully fit to play the first Test against India.
"We do play back-to-back Test matches all through this summer, we've got two blocks of Test matches (against India) over two weekends," Nielsen said.
"If you can't physically cope, and it's just not Stuart MacGill, there is no way you can give yourself the best chance of executing your skills to the level you need to be successful."
"Stuey has some work to do, we have Andrew Symonds who has an injury issue at the moment," the coach said.
The leg-spinner has an impressive record with 203 Test wickets and also found support from Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene in his selection duel with Hogg.
"It's a tough call. I think MacGill's got the experience. He's proved he has got the ability to do it. I think he just needs a bit more time," he said.
Meanwhile, Kountouris said scans showed that Symonds suffered no significant damage when he slipped and hurt himself while batting in Hobart. He should return to action well before the Boxing Day Test.