AUSTRALIAN captain Ricky Ponting faces a a delicate balancing act when he injects his loaded pace attack into tonight's one-day clash against India.
Ponting isn't short of choices. He has Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and a reborn Brett Lee itching for a shot at India and Pakistan during this week's triangular tournament.
Selectors will decide which bowlers face India, minus injured star Sachin Tendulkar, but Ponting must then settle his new-ball combination.
And he admitted veteran spearhead Glenn McGrath wasn't guaranteed top spot throughout the European visit, including next month's Champions Trophy in England.
"That might be something we look at but he will probably start with the new ball and we'll see what happens from there," Ponting said.
"There is a lot of depth and everyone has to be flexible. Glenn and Brett are back from injury and we've got Dizzy [Gillespie] and Kasper who are bowling very well.
"They can all do well with the new ball and they like to bowl with it."
Lee shapes as the X-factor in his return to one-day cricket after recovering from the ankle problem that derailed him in Sri Lanka six months ago.
"He was awesome in the last World Cup with the new ball and the old ball. We don't want to rush him back and put him under any extra pressure," Ponting said.
"If he has to be babied through this week, then we'll have to look at that but, if he's playing in the Champions Trophy, he'll be 100 per cent."
Ponting has used his bowlers well during his outstanding run as captain, suffering just seven "live" losses in his 70 matches at the helm.
The West Indies and South Africa have beaten Australia after series have been decided but only Sri Lanka (three times), India (twice) and Pakistan (twice) have slipped by Ponting when a trophy has been on the line.
His 80 per cent success rate is the best of any regular captain in one-day history, including Clive Lloyd and his power-packed West Indians in the 1980s.
That record showcases Australia's sharp focus, which will be vital at the Champions Trophy. Australia will be knocked out if they lose to New Zealand in a pool match on September 16 at The Oval.
"We haven't won it and that's a pretty big thing for us to change, especially for the guys who only play the one form of the game [internationally]," Ponting said.
Pakistan opened the tournament with a rain-interrupted 66-run victory over India yesterday. India were set 194 runs from 33 overs but collapsed with key batsmen Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid dismissed in the space of six balls.
- MICHAEL CRUTCHER