I wouldn't play two spinners: Hauritz
NATHAN Hauritz bowled Australia to victory against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground three years ago this week.
The off-spinner took career-best figures of 5-53 as Pakistan, chasing a modest 176 for victory, were bowled out for 139.
Although Hauritz, who has played in 17 Tests, won't be handling the spin bowling duties for Australia in the third and final Test of the series against Sri Lanka starting at the SCG on Friday, he's sure a spinner will have a key role to play.
Whether it's one or two tweakers remains to be seen with both Nathan Lyon and debutant all-rounder Glenn Maxwell in the squad as Australia aim for a 3-0 series whitewash.
While the SCG has a traditionally spin-friendly wicket, Hauritz, who called it home for six years while playing for NSW before returning to Queensland this season, said he wouldn't play two spinners if he was a selector.
"It's a tough call, especially as both are off-spinners," Hauritz, who has taken 63 wickets at 34.98 in his Test career, said.
"I would go in with just Nathan (Lyon) as the frontline spinner because he has not done a lot of bowling of late and he needs the overs before the Test series in India.
"If Glenn (Maxwell) plays and bowls it would take away overs Nathan should be bowling.
"Also, Glenn has not done much bowling either for Victoria or in the BBL ... he's in the squad for his batting primarily, but saying that, his bowling might come in handy though as it (the SCG wicket) always has a bit in it for us (spinners)."
While Hauritz, who has also played 58 ODIs and three Twenty20s for Australia, won't be in action at the SCG this week, he will be bowling at the Gabba tomorrow night.
Hauritz will be playing for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL showdown against the team captained by the man he replaced when making his Test debut against in India in Mumbai in 2004 - Shane Warne and the Melbourne Stars.
The now 31-year-old Hauritz took 3/16 in the first innings of his debut Test, including the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
Australian squad: Michael Clarke (c), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Glenn Maxwell, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Usman Khawaja.
