Ponting ponders spin options

Mitchell Johnson's chances of playing at Edgbaston may have firmed but Australia's captain Ricky Ponting said the soggy conditions had given them plenty to think about regarding the position of the spinner Nathan Hauritz. As the selectors ponder whether Stuart Clark can squeeze into the line-up, Ponting said Australia's research into Edgbaston didn't make for happy reading for the spinners.

"We've checked the stats for county games this season and spinners are averaging about 60 or 70 per wicket," Ponting told the Australian. "The numbers aren't compelling and with all this weather around, the curator claims it will be a typical English seamer."

Hauritz would be unlucky to miss out, having picked up nine wickets in the first two Tests, and he would be a valuable man in Australia's armoury if they bowl last. Ponting said it was unlikely he would choose to send England in after he did that at Edgbaston in 2005 and England scored 407 on the first day and won the match.

"You can get a bit carried away and look into things too deeply," Ponting said. "There aren't many pitches you don't want to bat first on, and if that's the case you're bowling last and you want a spinner. We just have to make sure we get our thinking right.

"The beauty of our team is that whatever we do we've got plenty of options, with Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Marcus North all able to bowl part-time spin. Marcus North showed he is more than capable of stepping up, with a good, long spell at Lord's when Nathan Hauritz was injured."

However, North hasn't picked up a Test wicket this series and it would be a gamble to rely on him as the leading spinner. He has also struggled to turn the ball as sharply as Hauritz, who is aiming to string together three consecutive Test appearances for the first time in his career.