PERTH: Captain Ricky Ponting says Australia may play four fast bowlers, and bowl first if it wins the toss, in the third Ashes Test against England which starts in Perth Thursday. Those steps would mark a departure from regular Australian policy, but Ponting told Wednesday's edition of the Australian newspaper they were being considered because of the unusually green nature of the pitch at the WACA ground for the third match of the five-Test series. The groundsman in charge of the pitch at the WACA has said the wicket is close to regaining its status as the fastest in world cricket. Ponting said it would be wrong not to consider employing four fast bowlers, possibly using vice captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Steve Smith to provide a spin bowling option. “If it's going to be very favorable for the quicks, then you've got to think about it,” Ponting said. “You're being negligent if you don't consider it.” England holds the Ashes and leads the current series 1-0 after winning the second Test at Adelaide by an innings and 71 runs. Ponting hasn't bowled first on winning the toss in a Test since 2005 against England at Edgbaston when England scored 407 on the first day and went on to win by two runs, leveling that Ashes series at 1-1. He was criticized for not bowling against Pakistan in Sydney earlier this year, though Australia went on to win, and again against Pakistan at Headingley, England in June when Australia was bowled out for 88. Ponting indicated decisions over the composition of the Australian attack may be delayed until match day. “If you played four quicks and you win the toss and bat and they don't get a chance to bowl on it until halfway through the second day if you bat well, whatever life that was in the pitch is probably gone,” Ponting said. “You've still got to decide what is your best attack to take 20 wickets in the conditions. “We've been saying that for weeks and haven't looked like it yet (bowling England out twice). Hopefully that comes now.” Australia enters the Perth Test under pressure to keep alive the Ashes series. If England wins again, to lead the series 2-0 with two matches to play, it will have succeeded in retaining the Ashes. Australia's selections during the series, its repeated changes to the fast bowling lineup and the choice for this match of untried spinner Michael Beer have all been interpreted as signs of panic. Ponting said that, while disappointed with their form, his players remained confident of matching England. He pointed out England has won only one of 11 previous Tests in Perth where it has often been unsuited to fast, bouncy conditions. In a regular newspaper column Monday, Ponting said England may also be unsettled by the loss of fast bowler Stuart Broad with an abdominal injury. Ponting said Australia needed to rediscover its natural game in Perth. “The overall theme for us this week is doing less talking and more with our actions,” he said.
