Tait ready to lead Oz attack

Melbourne, Oct. 24: Shaun Tait has declared that he is ready to be Ricky Ponting’s new stand over man as Australia search for a reverse swing king in India.

Twin threats Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan have mesmerised Australia’s batsman with relentless reverse swing to deliver a 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar series, FOX Sports reported.

Ponting’s only genuine Irish weapon — ‘Wild Thing’ Tait — put his hand up for national re-selection by dismantling NSW with a five-wicket haul during Wednesday’s one-day clash in Adelaide.

Asked if he was prepared to lead a revenge swing assault against Indians, speedster Tait said: "Definitely! If I get called up ... brilliant. It is a bit of a confidence game, especially fast bowling, and I am pretty confident. If I was called in to do that I would definitely have a crack."

Tait’s 10-month break from the game was triggered by a mental and physical meltdown in Australia’s third-Test loss to India in Perth.

Tait’s late reverse movement against the Blues was similar to that generated by the Indians using their innovative across-the-seam grip with the new ball. But the Indian pacemen do not deliver it wrapped in 150km/h thunderbolts.

"It came out well without trying too hard," said Tait, on his perfection of the mysterious art.

"The ball was reverse swinging nicely at the end. The accuracy was good and I was pretty economical," he added.

However, World Cup enforcer Tait, 25, suspects national selectors will take a conservative approach towards any recall.

— ANI