Picking Hirwani was a good ploy: Steve Waugh

Australian skipper Steve Waugh on Wednesday lauded the Indian selectors' ploy to include leg spinner Narendra Hirwani in the team for the first Test match starting here on February 27.

"Hirwani has good experience in Test cricket and at the same time none of us have played him and the selectors have done no harm by picking him as he could be a surprise packet,"

Waugh told reporters after nets at the Brabourne stadium.

Replying to a query about the Indian selectors' decision to pick three spinners in the Test squad- Hirwani, Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Sanghvi- after a log time, Waugh said "I don't know who would be playing in the eleven so I can't comment."

Waugh said their team had not yet finalised the playing eleven for tomorrow's three-dayer against Ranji champions Mumbai.

"However, we might field just four bowlers as both Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting can bowl a bit and we are more interested in preparing for the Test series," he said.

The Aussies are likely to leave out off spinner Colin Miller, Michael Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie to accommodate Mark Waugh, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in the final eleven for tomorrow's match.

Mail Cricket Editor