MacGill given chance to impress

Australia plan to give Stuart MacGill a decent spell in the tour match against Essex this weekend to determine whether he is ready for the series-decider at The Oval. MacGill has played only two matches in the past seven weeks, but John Buchanan confirmed he would be picked at Chelmsford. However, Buchanan refused to talk about possible changes for the fifth Test starting on Thursday.

Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, said the make-up of the side would not be discussed until next week. However, Hohns has not ruled anyone out of the side, leaving the door open for MacGill and Shane Watson, the Hampshire and Queensland allrounder.

MacGill has taken 39 wickets in six Tests against England and The Oval is expected to take spin. "Obviously if you talk to Stuart, whether he has bowled or hasn't bowled, he is ready to play a Test match," Buchanan told AAP. "This game will be important for him, to have a bowl against Essex given that he hasn't bowled a lot. Hopefully he'll get plenty of overs."

After talking to Steve Rixon, the Surrey coach, Buchanan said the Test pitch would take bounce and turn, meaning a MacGill and Shane Warne tandem act is a possibility. "It aids both pace bowlers who hit the deck and spin bowlers," Buchanan said. "Therefore I am sure Trevor Hohns would say Stuart MacGill is very much in the equation."