Sydney: Australian selectors have opted against including an extra spinner in their squad for the second Ashes cricket Test against England in Adelaide starting November 21.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said his panel had considered the option of adding a second spinner at the spin-friendly Adelaide Oval. But, Hohns said, they decided to stick with the 12-man squad that humiliated England by 384 runs in the first Test at the Gabba last weekend.

"There was the option to select two spinners in the squad but we have retained the same balance of attack we had in Brisbane," Hohns said on Thursday.

"That balance, of three fast bowlers and one spinner in the final 11, has worked well for us in the past in most conditions and did the job well for us at the Gabba so we saw no reason to change that mix for this Test match."

Queensland off spinner Hauritz would have been the likely choice to back up champion leggie Shane Warne if a second spinner had been chosen, having been included in recent Australian touring squads.

The only remaining question about the second Test is whether 12th man Brett Lee will regain his pace bowling role at the expense of his Gabba replacement Andrew Bichel following his 10-wicket haul for New South Wales against Tasmania last weekend.

Lee was released from his 12th man duties in Brisbane to enable him to play for his state at the same time as the Test.

However, it appears likely he will come into more serious contention for the third Test on the bouncy WACA wicket in Perth if he can continue his return to wicket- taking form for New South Wales.

Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Warne's verbal salvo: England will be more nervous