AUSTRALIA: CRICKET - England and Australian teams prepare for the third Ashes Test, Australian captain Ricky Ponting press conference

All-rounder Andrew Symonds will play in the third Ashes Test against England at the WACA Ground, which starts tomorrow. Symonds replaces the retired Damien Martyn and will bat at No.6, while Mike Hussey will bat at four and Michael Clarke five. Australian captain Ricky Ponting was confident Symonds, 31, was capable of cementing a spot in the Test side after posting only modest results in his first 10 matches. "He is really excited about being back in the team and right now feels better about his game than ever before.", said Ponting at the final press conference before tomorrows game. Both sides are expecting spin to dominate the game. England is considering playing both Panesar and Giles, having not played two spinners in Perth since Phil Edmonds and John Emburey teamed together 20 years ago. Pietersen's part-time offspin could also be called upon. England will not name its team beforehand, but Panesar might be in line for a long-awaited Ashes debut given he turns the ball further than Giles and bowled well during the two-day match against WA last weekend. Symonds also bowled well in his last match at the WACA, bowling a mixture of medium pace and offspin for Queensland against the Warriors, and Ponting expected him to not only be a handful, but to give Warne some much-needed respite during the match.

ITN Source | December 14, 2006

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