SYDNEY, Nov 14: Brad Hodge was almost certain to make his Test debut against West Indies this week, Australia captain Ricky Ponting said on Monday. Hodge was included in a 12-man squad for the second Test but Ponting said the middle-order batsman was unlikely to be the odd man out after being called in for Simon Katich.

“I’d be surprised if he didn’t play,” Ponting told reporters in Hobart.

“We haven’t picked the team yet but I’d imagine he’d be a replacement for Simon Katich.”

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill was 12th man in the first Test but left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken is the most likely candidate to carry the drinks in Hobart if Australia play two spinners as expected.—-Reuters