MacGill in summer Test plans

Stuart MacGill will be used in partnership with Shane Warne this summer to exploit the flawed techniques of West Indies and South Africa to legspin, but he is unlikely to be tried at the Gabba next week. Nathan Bracken, the left-arm swing bowler, was picked specifically for the seam-friendly pitch and would add extra variety to an attack of McGrath, Lee, Watson and Warne.

However, Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, said yesterday that MacGill would stay in the panel's thoughts for the rest of the summer, although it is unlikely he will be in the blueprint for the opening Test against South Africa in Perth. "It's certainly something we need to consider seriously because they [MacGill and Warne] have performed pretty well together the last couple of times they've played," Hohns said in The Age. "Given the opposition we're going to be up against, both countries, with all due respect, probably haven't played legspin all that well for a period of time."

MacGill, who has played the past two Sydney Tests, said he was "a little bit surprised" to be picked in the squad for the first Test against West Indies, which begins on Thursday, and expected Bracken to start the match. "I wasn't really anticipating being in the 12, and I wonder whether or not I'll actually get on, as the weather looks pretty nasty up there," MacGill told AAP. "Whoever gets out there, I'm sure they'll do a good job, but I'd say it probably favours him at this stage."