Hogg's suspension unlikely to affect team composition for Perth

Perth, Jan 14 (UNI) Left-arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg is scheduled for a hearing before Match referee Mike Proctor today but his suspension would probably not affect the team composition for the third Test against India at Perth.

Even if Hogg escapes suspension at the disciplinary hearing for making an offensive remark during the second Test, he is likely to be left out of the team and would be replaced by pacer Shaun Tait for the third Test.

Ponting himself believes that the Perth wicket will suit the fast bowler saying, ''It (the pitch) had been a bit ordinary in recent years, but it got some of that pace and bounce back for England last season and from all reports this year, it's got a lot more pace and a lot more bounce. It makes it a pretty good Test match to play.'' ''If you've got Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee and Shaun Tait in the side - who can all be pretty dangerous on their day - it adds a lot to it,'' he added.

Tait bowled with express pace at his captain in the WACA nets and managed to beat his bat on quite a number of occasions with his pace.

If given an opportunity to play at Perth, Tait will be playing only in his third Test and according to his team mates, was generating a smoking pace at the nets.

Ponting further endorsed Tait's selection for Perth saying ''He's been going well for weeks now and, unfortunately, missed out on the first two Tests, but he's got to be a great chance here.'' ''Balance is the thing we've got to come up with. Hoggy has done well here for WA, in the games he has played in first class cricket,'' he added.

Teammate Michael Clarke too seemed impressed by the 24-year-old South Australian and said Andrew Symonds and he himself would be willing provide spin support if needed.

''He was bowling pretty quick, and swinging the ball away." ''I enjoyed every minute of the other day, no doubt in the world.

Ricky was sick of me asking for a bowl, so he decided to throw me the ball,'' Clarke said.

''Symo and myself, the type of spin bowlers we are, when we get the opportunity we will try and do our best, but we're certainly no Shane Warne, put it that way,'' he added.

UNI XC RAR MP KN1429