Australia left-arm seamer Doug Bollinger will miss the second Test against India in Bangalore due to an abdominal strain.
Paceman's absence opens door for George debut
Australia left-arm seamer Doug Bollinger will miss the second Test against India in Bangalore due to an abdominal strain.
Bollinger suffered the injury on the final day of the first Test on Tuesday, when the tourists suffered a one-wicket defeat.
Australia are set to hand 23-year-old quick Peter George his Test debut on Saturday in Bollinger's absence, ahead of fellow uncapped duo James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc.
"Dougy's a bit sore still, so he'll be out and we've got to work out which of the young blokes we've got here will play," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said.
"Once we see the wicket conditions and how it's going to look, we've got three guys here who are actually quite different in what they do with their skills.
"So we're going to have to try to read the wicket the best way we can and find which of those will complement our attack the best.
"They're all really fit, they're all raring to go and they're all ready to play."
Hint
Ponting hinted that the 6ft 8in George, who has been likened to Australia great Glenn McGrath, will get the nod after he impressed in the tour opener against an Indian President's XI.
"He's got a lot of things in his favour, the fact that he's played 18 or 19 Sheffield Shield games as well is a bit of a bonus for him and he probably knows the step up for him might not be as great as for Starc and Pattinson," said Ponting.
"The two games George has played for us, Derby last year and then the practice game at the start of this tour, he's looked very, very good.
"He's one of those guys who keeps things pretty simple but if you talk to him and ask him to do something he'll just do what you want ball after ball after ball.
"So that's a nice thing to have as a captain to know whatever you say that these guys will go try and do for you."
Australia head into the final Test of the short series, their last before the start of the Ashes, needing to win to level the series.
