Siddons questions Australian bowling strategy

BARBADOS: Bangladesh cricket coach Jamie Siddons warned Australia that dropping a spinner for an extra paceman could backfire badly in their World Twenty20 clash on Wednesday.

Siddons admits Kensington Oval pitch in Barbados is going to favour quicks more than St Lucia, where pacemen Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson claimed eight wickets in Australia's 34-run win over Pakistan on Sunday.

As captain Michael Clarke and coach Tim Nielsen now ponder bringing in reserve fast bowler Ryan Harris for Wednesday's final Group A game, Siddons says the move would be a big risk.

"They can talk it up as much as they like. It'll be quicker than most other wickets, definitely quicker than St Lucia. But it's also spinning and that will suit us."

The dumping of leg-spinning all-rounder Steven Smith for Harris seems a little unlikely as it would weaken Australia's batting order and rob bowling attack of some variety.

However Siddons is preparing for chance that Harris will play. "It's a possibility. That takes Smith out, that takes their spinner out.”

"Firing away with four quicks is probably a good plan against Bangladesh but it can also backfire if wicket's not as fast or bouncy as they think it might be. We've played practice matches here. There's nothing lightning quick about it," he said.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 21 runs on Saturday, also at St Lucia.Two teams from Group A advance on Thursday to Super Eights and even if Australia suffered a narrow defeat to Bangladesh they would still qualify for second stage on superior run-rate.