RICKY Ponting admits Australia could enter the Champions Trophy without settling on a first-choice bowling attack because of the rich form of its four quicks.
Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Brett Lee have Ponting stumped because the captain says it is difficult to choose a top three for Australia's tournament opener against the United States in Southampton on September 13.
Kasprowicz missed Saturday's win over Pakistan in Amsterdam, but will play in this Saturday's warm-up clash with Pakistan at Lord's.
"It could come down to conditions or the make-up of the opposition team," Ponting said. "We've experimented with three or four guys with the new ball. Glenn didn't take the new ball all the time in the West Indies (last year) just for the sheer fact that Brett can swing the ball back into left-handers.
"Having four top-class quicks is pretty handy, especially through longer tours. It's good to know they're all ready and waiting."
Lee looked sharp in Amsterdam during his comeback from ankle problems and he remains the X-factor because of his ability to rip into opposition teams. His strike rate of a wicket every 28.51 deliveries is better than any bowler to have taken more than 100 wickets, while McGrath and Gillespie also rank in the top 15.
Ponting has played a strong role in Lee's development as a one-day bowler since claiming two years ago that the right-armer was giving away too many runs.
"We knew he had that sheer wicket-taking ability, and he's always going to have that because of how fast he bowls, but we wanted him to have more of a thought process in place about how he was going to bowl his 10 overs," Ponting said. "If he is bowling well, he has to come into calculations."
Lee, McGrath and Gillespie may be favoured to keep out Kasprowicz, who has roared back into international cricket, snatching 15 wickets in nine matches since returning to the team last summer.
- MICHAEL CRUTCHER