Australia cricket coach Mickey Arthur has watered down suggestions by captain Michael Clarke that the side might take a four-pronged pace attack into the second test against India, saying he was "loath" to go into any test without a spinner.
Arthur said Saturday that Australia's pace attack, led by Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus, has the potential to be the world's best and he's happy with his top six batsmen after the home side's 122-run win in the first test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
That meant the choice for the final spot in the team will come down to spinner Nathan Lyon or recalled paceman Ryan Harris.
Clarke suggested Harris could make it four pace bowlers in the starting 11 for the test starting Tuesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but Arthur said "the SCG has normally got a history of favouring spin down the line."
With Patrick Cummins, Shane Watson and Mitchell Starc either injured or waiting in the wings, South Africa-born Arthur is confident about Australia's pace depth and pleased by the competition for every position.
"We had 15 players that can play international cricket at any given time," Arthur said. "Hopefully by the end of the summer we might have 22 guys that can do that because we need to build up our strength in depth, which we are doing now. But I do think this pace attack has the potential to become the best in the world."
In Watson's continuing absence, Arthur sees the current top six — including often-criticized veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey — as Australia's best available batting lineup.
"We just need to give them time, especially our younger players at one, two and three," Arthur said.
"David Warner is going to be a great player in all three forms of the game, same with Shaun Marsh. Ed Cowan gave us that stability that we were looking for, especially in the first innings."
An India team official confirmed Saturday that the visitors will not name their starting side until just before the toss on Tuesday.