HOBART (Australia), Dec 19: Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Wednesday said the Indian team could say what they liked about his bowling line-up but they would still have difficulty against it.

India arrived in Australia on Tuesday for the four-Test series with captain Anil Kumble confidently targeting his opponent’s bowling as their weakness following the retirement of leg-spinner Shane Warne.

But Ponting said left-arm spinner Brad Hogg, who was on Tuesday named in the squad to replace an injured Stuart MacGill, deserved his place in the side despite only having played four Tests.

“A lot of international players have struggled reading Hoggy in one-day cricket especially,” Ponting told reporters. “He’s brought a lot of guys undone with his variations in that form of the game and I can’t see why it would be any different in Test cricket.

“If they (the Indians) want to go after him then good because that’s probably the best way for us to take wickets as well.

“Hoggy is bowling very well, he’s very confident, he’s been talking up how well he’s been bowling right through the summer. He’ll do a good job.”

Cricket Australia has named a 12-man squad, which also includes four fast bowlers, for the first Test which begins on Dec 26.

Officials have said they will decide the playing line-up based on conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) but Hogg or fast bowler Shaun Tait are considered the most likely contenders to carry the drinks.

India, who have won just four of the 32 Tests played in Australia, are aiming to become the first team to pull off a series victory Down Under since the West Indies triumphed in 1991-1992.

They will play their one and only practice match against the Victorian state side in Melbourne beginning on Thursday — something vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said did not give the squad much time to adjust to Australian conditions.

“It’s always better to have a few sessions before you go into a big Test match,” he said. “We really don’t have much time, this is the only session we have. It’s very crucial now, not only for me but all the individuals.” —AFP