Australia ready to unleash 'wicket-taking machine'

PERTH: Australian captain Ricky Ponting announced with glee that he will unleash 'wicket-taking machine' Shaun Tait to unsettle Indian batsmen at the fast-paced WACA track in the third cricket Test here on Wednesday.

Australia have decided to field an all-pace attack at the fastest track on earth with fiery Tait, who will replace Brad Hogg, giving company to Brett Lee, Stuart Clarke and Mitchell Johnson.

"Shaun Tait is a wicket-taking machine, it's very rare that he goes through a game without taking two or three wickets in an innings. He would be used in short spells to unsettle the batsmen," Ponting said.

Australia have been forced to make another change in their batting line-up with injured Matthew Hayden sitting out and left-hander Chris Rogers coming in his place.

"Hadyen is not fit. With 50 per cent running in yesterday, he hoped to be doing so 70 per cent today."

"In the last Test, he needed a runner and we thought if it happened in the first innings here, he would be needing a runner throughout. So we decided a week here and a few days extra should get him alright for Adelaide," Ponting said.

It's the pace attack of the Australians on a fiery pitch which was the talk at the WACA and Ponting felt it was for good reason.

"This wicket more than anything else rewards when it's bowled in good areas, giving yourself a lot more chance to pick wickets."

"Johnson didn't have much luck in the first two Tests. But by bowling close to 40 overs in the first innings in Sydney, he showed he could bowl long spells."