Trent Bridge pitch made for pace

Any thoughts of Australia playing two spinners for the fourth Test have been quashed by the Trent Bridge groundsman, who believes his pitch will suit the fast bowlers. Steve Birks told the Herald Sun Warne could turn the ball on glass so "the less help he gets the better".

"One thing is certain as far as the Test pitch is concerned," Birks told the paper, "there shouldn't be anything in it for that spinner of theirs until the fifth day, if at all, and then not very much."

Warne has troubled England for his fourth consecutive Ashes tour and has taken his overall tally against them to 152 wickets at 19.58. He already has 20 victims in the current series and is certain to be partnered by Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee on Thursday. However, the final spot appears to be a straight shoot-out between Michael Kasprowicz and Shaun Tait on a typical Trent Bridge surface.

"Pitches here are generally pretty flat and I don't see it being any different for the Test," Birks said. "That's certainly what I am aiming for, which means there won't be much variation off the seam for the quicker bowlers or turn for the spinners."