Any recall for Shane Watson to the Australian Test team will have to come at the expense of a spin bowler after captain Ricky Ponting tetchily rebuked the suggestion that Andrew Symonds might make way for his fellow Queenslander.
Symonds has been in the wars in Adelaide, out unluckily for a duck while also dealing with further revelations about his time away from the national side plus his altercation with a photo-seeking fan in Brisbane.
Watson, meanwhile, has been fighting to get back, notching a striking double of 7-69 and 81 in the concurrent Sheffield Shield match between the Bulls and South Australia at the Gabba.
Good as that form is, Ponting said he was quite happy with Symonds, thanks.
"Symmo has not had a bad game. He got a decision that probably could have gone either way here," the skipper said.
"All of a sudden everyone is asking questions about him. I'm not sure why that is."
Unfortunately for Nathan Hauritz, Jason Krejza or whoever else is chosen to bowl spin for Australia against the South Africans, Ponting expressed the feeling that their place was a little more expendable than that of Symonds.
"I think it (to replace the spinner) would be (his best chance)," Ponting said of a recall for Watson.
"We've got to work out who we think our best four bowlers are. Here we thought three quicks and a spinner was our best attack. In Perth it could be different.
"If we did make that change, I don't think we would bring another specialist fast bowler in.
"We would look at an allrounder like Watson."
On the subject of the spin pecking order, Ponting said Jason Krejza had to remain the first man picked, irrespective of Hauritz's solid showing in Adelaide.
"Jason was obviously the first-picked spinner here. Taking 12 wickets on debut you've obviously got to give him another chance whenever he is fit," he said.
"Hauritz did a good job out here, though, I thought. He chipped in with a couple of vital wickets for us and did a good job right through the game.
"We know that if something happens with him (Krejza), Hauritz's skills are up there and certainly good enough to come back into the Test team again."
