HOBART: Australian captain Michael Clarke said Thursday he could be tempted to bowl first if he wins the toss on a Bellerive greentop in the second Test against New Zealand.
The bowler-friendly pitch threatens to make life difficult for the team batting first in Hobart and Clarke said he may be forced to go against his natural instincts and bowl should the coin toss go his way.
Australia lead the two-Test series after a thumping nine-wicket victory at the Gabba in Brisbane last weekend and Clarke has named an unchanged eleven.
Clarke, who has only won the toss once in his seven Tests as captain, said overhead conditions on the morning of the match would help him decide whether to bat or bowl.
"I'll wait and see tomorrow. I think overhead conditions will play a part. For me it's more about looking up than looking down to see what the weather is like," he said.
"If the wicket doesn't change much from what I see and it's still a little bit tacky and there's overhead conditions, there's a big chance I'll bowl first.
"But I've said that a few times in the past and gone out there and batted.
"I guess the two things I find really hard are bowling first when I win the toss and not picking a spinner."
Clarke was surprised to discover a bowler-friendly strip.
"I think day one is going to be quite tough for the batters, especially if it's overcast and then it will turn into a pretty good wicket," he said, adding that spinner Nathan Lyon could still play a key role later in the match.
Clarke has named an unchanged team and said he had confidence in his four frontline bowlers to get the wickets.
The skipper said good bowling with the new ball would be rewarded.
"There's going to be a bit of seam and swing through the whole game with that grass on it so if you bowl really well with the new ball you're going to have some impact," he said.
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