Sydney Australia have finally found a ray of hope from the ruins of their Ashes defeat that could haunt England when they travel down under next year to defend cricket's most famous urn.
Australia's selectors were heavily criticised for their reluctance to play two spinners in the Ashes but the brilliant performances by Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill in the super Test against the World XI could force a policy change.
The two leg spinners captured 15 of the 20 wickets in Australia's 210-run victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday and captain Ricky Ponting said there was now a compelling argument to use the same combination at other grounds.
?You're always trying to pick a team for the right conditions,? Ponting said.
?We went in with the two leg spinners in this game because we had an idea and felt that this wicket would turn quite a lot as it did, ?he added.
Ponting said that the key to playing two spinners in the future was the addition of promising all-rounder Shane Watson, dubbed Australia's answer to Andrew Flintoff.
Watson has played just two Tests and while he failed to make a big impact against the World XI, Ponting said he had all the ingredients of a fine player.
?Having the all-rounder in the side as well with someone like Shane Watson gives us another bowling option which at times during the Ashes we were looking for and searching for,? Ponting said.
The Australian selectors wielded the axe after the Ashes loss, dropping middle-order batsman Damien Martyn and fast bowlers Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz.
No further changes
Ponting said he didn't expect any more changes before the start of next month's Test series against West Indies although there are concerns about Simon Katich.
The left-hander broke a finger while fielding close-in on Monday and had no luck with the bat either. He was run out for a duck in the first innings then dismissed for two in the second as the Australian middle-order crumbled, losing 9-47 on a turning wicket.
?I don't have any concerns there at all I think we've got the right players there, players that have been successful for us for decent periods of time in the past,? said Ponting.
MacGill took 5-43 in the second innings, including the final three wickets in just five balls, to finish with nine victims for the match.
MacGill's Test appearances have been restricted to Sydney in the past couple of seasons but he said his performance in the super Test had added ammunition to his argument he should play more often.
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