Melbourne: Still haunted by the drubbing at the hands of India in Perth last summer, Australia captain Ricky Ponting is taking no chances and has voted for a bouncy wicket in the first Test against South Africa at the WACA starting December 17.

According to a report in The Age , Ponting will be meeting Perth curator Cameron Sutherland before the Test to establish if he plans to use an old strip or one of the recently relaid pitches.

The relaid wickets have provided pace and bounce for domestic fast bowlers all season, and if a relaid surface is used for the South Africa match, spinner Jason Krejza may be lose out on a berth in the team for the third consecutive time, the report added.

"We got duped a bit there last year. We had heard so much about the WACA being at its fast and bouncy best. India played us on a wicket that hadn t been relaid and we went in with four fast bowlers. That brought us undone a bit," Ponting said.

The Australian skipper also expressed confidence in troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds and has voted for his inclusion in the squad alongside Shane Watson.

"A lot depends on which wicket we use. If it is one of the relaid ones...there would have to be some consideration given to playing a line-up similar to Brisbane, he said.

"Watto (Watson) has had a great game up in Brisbane this week for Queensland. He could obviously slot back into the side as well if we feel conditions are going to suit.

"(Symonds) has probably been our most consistent batsman over the last couple of series at No. 6,so I m pretty happy to have him in the side," he added.
Source : PTI