Aussies will need to make tough choices to take on India and the Poms

Sydney, Sept.12 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and the national selection panel will need to make some tough choices when choosing players for the India tour and the forthcoming Ashes series Down Under against England.

According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, the Australian top five is largely settled, and Ponting and the selectors would need to discuss how useful Western Australian captain and middle order bat Marcus North would be in the national scheme of things.

North's form away from home has been sound but he has struggled in his short career at home. What should get North over the line, possibly depending on his form in India, will be the fact that he played very well against England last Ashes, and his development as a bowler makes him a very useful option for Ricky Ponting.

They also have problems on the wicket keeping front - a choice needs to be made between Brad Haddin, who has been battling an elbow tendon injury, and Tasmanian wicketkeeper/batsman Tim Paine, 25, who filled in admirably against Pakistan in England.

In India, Paine will get more opportunities to press his claim to be retained, even if Haddin returns to fitness. Haddin hopes to be fit for the one-day series against India.

The selectors will also wonder whether to have off-spinner Nathan Hauritz go head-to-head with England spin spearhead Graeme Swann or usher in young prodigy Steven Smith to bowl his leg-spinners.

Smith hates comparisons to Shane Warne but, let's face it, having a young blond leggie waddling in to bowl in an Ashes Test won't sit too comfortably with the Poms.

On the fast bowler front, Ponting and the selectors have a choice of plenty, and selection would in all probability be focused on horses for courses.

Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle should be back at full fitness. Hilfenhaus provides good new-ball swing and Siddle some good pace and bounce. Mitchell Johnson has experience, pace and left-arm angle but can be erratic. Doug Bollinger is less erratic but has less of an X-factor than Johnson. Peter George and Josh Hazlewood are exciting young bowlers in the mould of Glenn McGrath.

There's even rumbles about Shaun Tait returning. (ANI)