Australia to leave decision late on struggling McGrath

ADELAIDE, Nov 30 (Reuters) Lingering concerns about the fitness of fast bowler Glenn McGrath forced Australia to delay naming their team for the second Ashes test against England starting tomorrow.

McGrath is still suffering pain in his left heel from last week's first test in Brisbane and could be a late casualty for the second match in Adelaide.

After having two days off, McGrath was put through his paces in the practice nets on Thursday with a decision on whether he plays delayed until Friday morning.

The Australian captain Ricky Ponting said McGrath was desperate to play but the team would not risk him if there was a chance he might break down during the match.

''You'd pretty much have to amputate his foot I reckon for him not to be out there in this game,'' Ponting told a news conference.

''It's something that he's actually had for about 15 years of his career and it's just got a lot worse last week.

''It won't get much worse during the game...but we can't go into the test match with him unless he's 100 per cent and we can rely on him to get right through the game at his best.'' DUO ON STANDBY Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson have both been placed on standby in case McGrath is ruled out in an expanded 13-man squad that includes the 11 starters from the first test.

''We won't know about him until tomorrow morning,'' Ponting said.

''He's seen a podiatrist yesterday morning who's done a fair bit of work with him and changed up his inner soles in his shoes to take a bit of the pressure away from it.

''It will be hard to keep him out but he'll know within himself whether he's right.'' McGrath took 6-50 in England's first innings in Brisbane but his injury will be a concern for the Australians after they lost the last Ashes series in England in 2005.

McGrath was man of the match in Australia's first test win at Lord's but injured his foot when he stepped on a ball during the warm-up for the second test.

He missed that match and although he did return, Australia failed to win another test and eventually lost the series 2-1.

REUTERS PM KP1055