Australia confident of winning spin battle

ADELAIDE, Nov 30 (Reuters) Australia's cricketers have dismissed England's chances of relying on spin to win the second test and square the Ashes series.

England are considering playing two spinners for the second test starting at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow by picking Monty Panesar and Ashley Giles, but the Australians say they have no fears.

''I don't think the Australian batting line-up sees a lot of threat in either of those two players,'' opening batsman Matthew Hayden told a news conference today.

''It's not something we're overly concerned about.'' Adelaide has traditionally suited slow bowling on the final two days when the pitch starts to wear, but Australia have shown their hand early by picking Shane Warne as the sole spinner.

The world record holder said he was confident of matching England's twin-spin attack despite claims by their coach Duncan Fletcher that the tourists no longer feared Warne after restricting him to four wickets in the first test in Brisbane.

''Duncan is trying to build up a few players who aren't convinced and are really worried about spin,'' Warne wrote in the Adelaide Advertiser.

''It shows just how worried they are about spin. There are no secrets about England -- they are searching for positives.'' RISK ELEMENT Australian captain Ricky Ponting said he thought England's players, with the exception of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, had struggled against Warne in the home side's 277-run victory in Brisbane.

Pietersen and Collingwood both went on the attack against Warne and just fell short of making centuries but Ponting said their aggressive approach carried a high element of risk.

Collingwood departed for 96 when he danced down the wicket to Warne and was stumped by Adam Gilchrist while Pietersen was dismissed by Brett Lee for 92 after a fiery confrontation with Warne.

''A couple of their players played him okay for short periods of time but as you know in test cricket you've got to play well for long periods and this wicket's going to suit Warney,'' Ponting said.

''I know as a batter that you can't afford to get too aggressive because the bowler always gets the ball back, it doesn't matter how far you hit it, it always comes back to him and he gets another chance to knock you over next time.'' Reuters PM RS1429