'I'm a better option', says MacGill

Stuart MacGill, rated by most as Australia's second-best slow bowler, has expressed his dismay at missing out on the tour of India next month. The selectors' decision to accommodate Cameron White, a legspinning allrounder, and Nathan Hauritz, the Queensland offspinner who had a horrendous domestic season, may also have spelt the end of MacGill's Test career, which has realised 152 wickets from just 32 Tests.

"I think I'm the untested option in India," said MacGill, quoted in the Herald Sun newspaper. "It will remain as one of the biggest regrets in my career that I have not played a Test there. I'm a valid option and I'm disappointed I haven't been given the opportunity.

"At this point in time I believe I'm a better onfield option than anyone outside Shane Warne. That's not a personal comment, it's a professional comment because both Nathan Hauritz and Cam [White] are friends of mine. I'm really happy for them and I have big hopes for both of them. But whether I think it's right or wrong doesn't matter. Selectors make the calls and Australian cricket has been so strong for so many years, who am I to argue?"

Hauritz had a wretched Pura Cup season, with his 16 wickets costing 64 apiece, and he was as surprised as anyone over his call-up. "I just couldn't fathom it; I was just dumbfounded to think I was part of the squad," he said. "My goal was to play Test cricket at about 25 or 26."

The decision to go with Hauritz, a finger-spinner, has a lot to do with history with Ashley Mallett (1969-70) and Greg Matthews (1986-87) having distinguished themselves on tours of India. Last time round, Colin Miller was part of the squad, though he didn't have quite the same impact.

Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, suggested that MacGill's omission was part of a horses-for-courses philosophy. "Coming up, we have countries [New Zealand and England] who don't play legspin very well so we may play two legspinners. We have picked three different types of spinners and Stuart MacGill can be categorised as a similar style of spinner to Shane Warne.

"We thought it was essential we had a finger-spinner [Hauritz] and a spin-bowling allrounder [White] and a fast-bowling allrounder [Watson]. We feel we are covered for any conditions."

There remain seeds of doubt, however, as evidenced by the decision to review the composition of the squad after the second Test of the four-match series.