Tait would join Test squad if asked

Shaun Tait has said that he would be ready and willing for an international return if Australia made a late decision to call him into the Test squad in India, where their fast bowlers have struggled. Tait produced a brilliant ten overs of aggressive and very fast bowling, including several wicked reverse-swinging yorkers, in South Australia's one-day win on Wednesday

He said his sometimes injury-prone body was feeling good after a month back in cricket following his decision to walk away from the game in January, when he cited mental and physical exhaustion. Although he only bowled in short spells, Tait's 5 for 27 against New South Wales served as a timely reminder that Australia's best fast men are not necessarily all in India, where the attack has battled to find the reverse swing that Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma have mastered.

"If picked and conditions suited I could bowl reverse swing but I would have still have to bowl well," Tait told the Advertiser after Wednesday's game. "Reverse swing can play a key role in my bowling. It's up to selectors and I am concentrating on the next game for the Redbacks. Traditionally the Indians have been good exponents of reverse swing and I think we still have a bit to learn about it in Australia."

Tait's success came as Australia's vice-captain Michael Clarke voiced his concerns about the lack of reverse swing that Australia had managed in the first two Tests. India's fast men have been holding their fingers across the seam early in their spells to help the ball scuff and it has been reversing within the first ten overs.

That tactic has surprised Australia's bowlers, who will work on the issue with the bowling coach Troy Cooley ahead of the third Test in Delhi. Jamie Cox, one of Australia's selectors and the high performance manager at South Australia, said the lack of movement Australia's bowlers had extracted was a worry.

"It does seem to be an issue. I am sure Troy Cooley is working hard with the bowlers in developing that," Cox said. "It caused us some grief in England in 2005 as a batting group. We need to take that on and as a bowling group work out how to benefit from it."