Jostling fast men unsure of next step

Shaun Tait expects the next couple of days to count for little, Mitchell Johnson doesn't plan to lift his training intensity above the usual level and Stuart Clark is pretty happy to be in Brisbane after his thigh injury recovered ahead of schedule. The three fast bowlers began the in-house push for Australia's undecided bowling spot today and all were unsure who had the best claims to join Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Brett Lee in the first Test.

Practice form will give Ricky Ponting a guide when he considers which two men to shear from the squad for Thursday and he had an early chance to monitor Johnson and Clark during the squad's first training session at a Brisbane private school. As planes accelerated to various destinations from the city's nearby airport, the pair resumed a battle for take-off at the Gabba.

Johnson started his day against Ponting and Clark joked that when it was his turn he unleashed a couple of bouncers to gain the captain's attention. "We've had a laugh about the situation," Clark said. "Me and Mitchell were both down to bowl to Ricky today, so I said to Mitch this is a bowl-off. I'll get the newest ball and you get the newest ball. It's good competitive fun, but we're all in it for the cause to get back the Ashes."

While Johnson and Clark were warming up, Tait was winding down after ten days of shock therapy directed at England batsmen. He did not bowl during the session and was on light duties after flying to Brisbane from South Australia's three-day game against the tourists.

Two weeks ago Tait felt he had no chance of being in the squad. "No, God, definitely not," he said. After surging through England with 3 for 21 for the Prime Minister's XI and taking another three wickets in Adelaide he forced the selectors into choosing an expanded squad. Six fast men, including the injured Watson, were stalking the two main ovals and nets today.

"It's strange, really, having so many in the squad, but I like it," Tait, who is the youngest of Australia's bowlers at 23, said. "Fast bowlers get along well and are pretty laid back. But the next couple of days aren't going to make much difference. The selectors know what we can do."

Each man offers something different and the final decision will depend on whether the selectors want variation, speed or sense. Johnson, 25, is a promising left-armer but is yet to play a Test while Tait's high-level speed has already upended England's keys of Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss. Clark, the 31-year-old right-arm seamer, is the more thoughtful option and not just because he completed an exam for a university subject in company valuation on Friday.

Ponting had Clark, who excelled on South Africa's seaming pitches in March, pencilled in for the Gabba months before the bowler hurt his right thigh. "It got a bit close there and the doctors were telling me it wasn't that great," Clark said. "I did all the rehab and it worked very well. It now feels normal again."

The trio knows the decision will be tight, but for Johnson and Tait it is the exciting part of adventures that have been disrupted by back and shoulder injuries. "I'm just going to do the same thing I've done for last 12 months," Johnson said. "If I try to impress that's where I can come undone."

Tait was surprised and excited to return to the set-up for the first time since suffering a shoulder problem before last year's Super Series, and his throwing has improved to the point where he is confident hurling from the boundary. "I'm so chuffed to be part of the 13," he said. "If I don't play at least I know I'm close."

And which way will the selectors go? "I really don't know," Tait said. "I don't think anyone knows." If the other two candidates were listening they would have nodded.