Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has urged the team to use the New Year’s Test in Sydney as practice for the upcoming tour of India by playing five bowlers.
With Australia already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead heading into the final Test of the series, and with a number of injuries, there is a unique opportunity for the squad to be rotated at the SCG.
Star all-rounder Cameron Green is one of the players who will make way in the third Test after suffering a broken finger at the MCG, and Taylor believes his replacement should be a spinner such as Mitchell Swepson.
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“They’ve got an opportunity in Sydney to try a few things,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“I know people say you shouldn’t try things in Test matches, but with Cameron Green not playing, I’d really like to see Alex Carey bat at six and Australia pick five bowlers.
“They should pick their three quicks, whoever they’re going to be, and play (Nathan) Lyon and probably Swepson, play the two spinners.
“They can go all out attack with the ball and rely on their top five and Carey to make enough runs to win the Test match.”
While teams have traditionally opted against playing five bowlers, Taylor said the brittle nature of South Africa’s batting lineup should encourage the risky selection move.
“I think with the bowling they’ve got there, with whoever those quicks are going to be, you’ve got enough guys there to take the 20 wickets,” he said.
“South Africa only just made 200 in the final innings in Melbourne for the first time in four Test matches, their batting is very gettable at the moment.
“So I’d be looking to attack with the ball and back yourselves in to make enough runs with only five specialist batters.”
Following the third Test against South Africa at the SCG, Australia will next be action in the long format when it travels to India for a four-match series starting in February.
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