The need for Australian speed. Quickly

Alex Brown reports in The Age about Australia’s desperate search for fast bowlers ahead of the South Africa Test tour.

Australia’s four selectors will cast their net across two continents and five stadiums this week as they attempt to settle on a 14-man Test squad, which promises to be the most contentious in recent years ... Chief among their priorities is to identify a competitive pace attack in the absence of Glenn McGrath, and whether Stuart MacGill should play as back-up to Shane Warne.

In the same paper Martin Blake writes about the assignment facing Brad Hodge.

Brad Hodge is comfortable, or as comfortable as you can be when you're in the Australian Test team and you have the likes of Michael Clarke breathing down your neck. As his close confidante Michael Sholly says: "You average 50 in the Australian side and you're still under pressure."