Starc gears up for Caribbean debut on 'grassy' Windsor pitch

Roseau (Dominica, West Indies) Apr 23 (ANI): Australian fast-bowler Mitchell Starc is all set to make his Caribbean debut at Windsor Park in Dominica on Monday.

Starc has a good chance of earning a call up.

"With a bit more grass on the surface, there's probably a chance we'll go in with three quicks in this game compared to the make-up from last week. But, I'm sure we'll decide on that tomorrow Monday afternoon," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.

The Windsor Park covers were peeled back to reveal a pitch sporting a healthy, though inconsistent, grass coverage. The prospect of a faster pitch will encourage batsmen from both sides, who have been forced to labour in sluggish conditions in this series. But there are concerns that the unevenly grassed pitch might provide varying bounce.

Australian captain Michael Clark outlined that Ponting could probably take a permanent sabbatical from Tests, but that would not be a reason why he wouldn't be playing against South Africa, later in the year.

"If he continues to play the way he's played throughout the last 12 months - he had a wonderful summer - then I see no reason why he won't be in the team come the first Test against South Africa," Clarke said.

Ponting, who has had bad luck in the Test series till now, however claimed that he was "in as good a shape as ever".

"I finished the Shield season really strongly, and as I say, I've felt in really good shape the whole time I've been here," he said. (ANI)