Ponting backs twin spin

Ricky Ponting is convinced Stuart MacGill, who has struggled for New South Wales this season, can provide results for Australia's attack in the first Test at Cape Town on March 16. The touring squad will be announced on Tuesday and Ponting said MacGill's positives of being a world-class wicket-taker were more important than the negatives of his recent Pura Cup form.

MacGill has taken only 15 first-class victims for New South Wales at the weighty average of 58.73, but he collected six in his two Tests against South Africa this summer and Ponting expected the Cape Town surface to spin.

"It would be hard to look past MacGill," Ponting told AAP. "His record in Test cricket is outstanding anyway." MacGill, 35, has played 38 matches for 182 dismissals at 27.94, and Ponting said a lot of the side's experience came from the two spinners. Shane Warne, who picked up 7 for 100 against Queensland on Friday, is a certainty and MacGill is part of a nervous group of bowlers waiting for phonecalls.

"He hasn't had the greatest Pura Cup season, but as we know at Test level he's a proven wicket-taker and he continues to do it game after game," Ponting said. "When a lot of people think he mightn't, he puts his hand up and does the business."

The bowling line-up is the most crucial aspect of the squad with the absence of Glenn McGrath, and Ponting said he would talk to Andrew Hilditch, the on-duty selector, about its composition. "If we happen to play two spinners there is a lot of experience in our attack," he said. "With Brett Lee having played a fair bit of cricket as well, whichever way they decide to go with the faster bowlers, we'll have enough experience there."

Shaun Tait, Michael Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie are contenders for a fast-bowling spot, but Nathan Bracken holds the best position after taking the new ball during the one-day series. Michael Clarke will sweat on a recall to the squad after being dropped during the West Indies series while Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson are pushing for the allrounder's place unless the selectors pick them both in the 14-man squad.