Summary Courtney Walsh has questioned Australia's new pace obsession leading into this week's opening Test.
HOBART (AFP) - West Indies fast bowling great Courtney Walsh has questioned Australia s new pace obsession leading into this week s opening Test in Hobart.
Walsh, the fifth all-time leading Test wicket-taker with 519 and second only to Glenn McGrath as most prolific paceman, said he was surprised by Australia s wisdom of opting for those who bowl at speeds of above 140kph (87 mph).
Australia s chief selector Rod Marsh used the reasoning last week in choosing Nathan Coulter-Nile in the squad for the first Test despite not having played a four-day game since March.
Walsh, who once featured in a dominant Windies attack that at times unleashed at least four lightning quicks, said he would not attempt to rejuvenate his team s ailing Test hopes by adopting Australia s approach.
"I think you have to play your best bowlers, if they happen to be quick then fine," Walsh, a selector, told reporters in Hobart late Sunday.
"But I wouldn t be just selecting four bowlers just because they can bowl at 140kph -- maybe one or two.
"But you still want someone who can hit the right areas. It s about getting the right combination together."
That appears a challenge for the Windies attack after they were outclassed by a young Cricket Australia XI batting line-up in their embarrassing 10-wicket tour loss in Brisbane over the weekend.
But Walsh backed Windies captain Jason Holder s call that their bowlers could exploit Australia s batting "weaknesses".
"I think so. If we play to our true potential, and our batsmen settle and make a decent score, it will be a very, very interesting series," he said.
"I don t want to let the cat out of the bag but I am happy that they see weaknesses and I agree that there are weaknesses (in the Australian line-up).
"It s about zeroing in on them and executing. I hope to see that in Hobart."
