Australia to rely on pace to win India series

CRICKET: MELBOURNE, Sept 13:- Australia will be counting on their pace attack, not spin, to beat India in their four-test series that begins next month, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said on Friday.

Australia named the uncapped Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle in their 15-man squad to provide back-up to the front line trio of Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson for the series.

"It'll depend on conditions, they are spinner friendly, but when we won there last time (in 2004) we won because of our quick bowlers and we think it'll be the same this time," Hilditch told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.

"At the moment it's all about Andrew's welfare and that process will take as long as it takes." Captain Ricky Ponting (wrist) and opening batsman Matthew Hayden (Achille's tendon) have been included after they returned home injured from the tour of West Indies.

Ponting had surgery while Hayden underwent an extensive rehabilitation programme, with both missing the recent one-day series in Darwin.

The first test begins in Bangalore on Oct. 9. AFP