Langer backs Kasper over Tait for Test spot

NORTHAMPTON – Australia batsman Justin Langer has said Michael Kasprowicz, rather than Shaun Tait, should join Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee in the tourists’ attack for the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, starting today.

Jason Gillespie, whose three wickets in the series to date have cost an expensive 100 runs apiece, is in line to be dropped following the second Test at Old Trafford where Australia clung on for a draw with one wicket standing and his absence would create a seam-bowling vacancy. Uncapped speedster Tait, 22, who has the backing of legendary Australia quick Dennis Lillee, took two wickets and left opener Tim Roberts with a cut above his left eye from a bouncer during the recently drawn two-day warm-up game against Northamptonshire.But Langer, captain in Ricky Ponting’s absence at Wantage Road, made it clear he would prefer to see the experienced Kasprowicz recalled for the third Test, which starts on Thursday with the five-match series all square at 1-1.The gutsy left-handed opening batsman said that with express paceman Lee already in the team, Australia needed to think hard about whether they also wanted to include a similar bowler in Tait amidst concerns that both men were as likely to be expensive as take wickets.Langer was particularly impressed by 33-year-old Kasprowicz’s display against Northamptonshire, where the hard-working Queenslander took one for 43 from his 14 overs.Kasprowicz has had several comebacks during the course of his international career and is not the sort to get unduly flustered by a spell on the sidelines.But having kept Lee out of the Test team in the 18 months prior to the Ashes, when he took 55 wickets in 16 matches, he might have had cause to feel aggrieved about being left out of the side for the first Test at Lord’s, where Australia won by 239 runs.Recalled for the second Test at Edgbaston, following McGrath’s freak ankle injury before play on the first morning, he took three wickets and, as the last batsman, almost helped Lee guide Australia to victory in a match England won by two runs to level the series.However, his batting heroics did not prevent him being dropped again.But whoever is in the final XI, Langer said the team must collectively improve their performance if they are to avoid becoming the first Australia side in nine Ashes campaigns to lose a Test series against England.- Nampa-ReutersUncapped speedster Tait, 22, who has the backing of legendary Australia quick Dennis Lillee, took two wickets and left opener Tim Roberts with a cut above his left eye from a bouncer during the recently drawn two-day warm-up game against Northamptonshire.But Langer, captain in Ricky Ponting’s absence at Wantage Road, made it clear he would prefer to see the experienced Kasprowicz recalled for the third Test, which starts on Thursday with the five-match series all square at 1-1.The gutsy left-handed opening batsman said that with express paceman Lee already in the team, Australia needed to think hard about whether they also wanted to include a similar bowler in Tait amidst concerns that both men were as likely to be expensive as take wickets.Langer was particularly impressed by 33-year-old Kasprowicz’s display against Northamptonshire, where the hard-working Queenslander took one for 43 from his 14 overs.Kasprowicz has had several comebacks during the course of his international career and is not the sort to get unduly flustered by a spell on the sidelines.But having kept Lee out of the Test team in the 18 months prior to the Ashes, when he took 55 wickets in 16 matches, he might have had cause to feel aggrieved about being left out of the side for the first Test at Lord’s, where Australia won by 239 runs.Recalled for the second Test at Edgbaston, following McGrath’s freak ankle injury before play on the first morning, he took three wickets and, as the last batsman, almost helped Lee guide Australia to victory in a match England won by two runs to level the series.However, his batting heroics did not prevent him being dropped again.But whoever is in the final XI, Langer said the team must collectively improve their performance if they are to avoid becoming the first Australia side in nine Ashes campaigns to lose a Test series against England.- Nampa-Reuters