CRICKET/Australia v South Africa final Test: South Africa are considering playing uncapped spinner Johan Botha in the final Test against Australia in a last-ditch gamble to salvage a drawn series.
The tourists need to win the final match, starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground today, to square the three-match series after drawing in Perth then losing in Melbourne.
Proteas captain Graeme Smith said the tourists were still undecided about their line-up but changes had to be made and former Malahide and Ireland player Botha was under serious consideration after being rushed into the squad this week when injured fast bowler Makhaya Ntini was sent home.
Smith said South Africa were unlikely to play two spinners despite Sydney's reputation for assisting slow bowlers, leaving the selectors to choose between the untried Botha and Nicky Boje, who failed to take a wicket in Melbourne.
"I think as a team we've got to take more risks and he's (Botha) a guy who wants to bowl in the tough situations, he wants to bowl at the death and be in the mix of things," Smith said.
"He's a much more aggressive character, he's a wicket-taker, he loves to take wickets and hopefully that'll produce results down the line.
"But it's not like he's got to produce a miracle for us. It's about us giving him exposure and saying go and make an opportunity of it. It's not going to be only his chance."
The Australians also delayed the announcement of their starting XI but captain Ricky Ponting said the world champions were certain to stick with the twin-spin combination of Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill.
The only change to the side that won in Melbourne is the inclusion of opening batsman Justin Langer, who missed the last game with a groin strain but came through a gruelling net session in 43 degree temperatures yesterday to prove his fitness.
"It does look like a good wicket. I think it'll be a fairly traditional Sydney cricket wicket. It'll be unlikely that we'll make any other changes," Ponting said.
"I've been really happy with the way we've played in the last two games.
"A lot of our guys are in good form, there's a good feeling around the team and if we get out there and start the Test match well I'm sure South Africa will find it hard to beat us."
Ponting said Australia's 184-run victory in Melbourne had given his team a huge psychological lift heading into Sydney.
"I felt we dominated the Perth Test without being able to win and although we had some sticky moments in Melbourne we managed to win the game fairly comprehensively," he said.
"I think Melbourne was good for us in that we won very convincingly and probably gave South Africa a few other things to think about."
Smith said his team had shown they were good enough to beat the Australians but had paid a heavy price for some untimely errors, including 11 dropped catches in the first two Tests.
"We've certainly had opportunities to get ourselves 1-0 up in the series but we didn't take them and that's the most disappointing thing for us because we've put a lot of work in," he said.
"But we're 1-0 down, whether it's 2-0 it doesn't make any difference, we've still lost the series so we've got to give it everything.
"Sometimes when you're 1-0 up and you're holding on to a lead it can create more pressure on you so we're just going to relax and play our natural game.
"We still believe we can beat them. We've created opportunities and we have no doubt whatsoever in our minds that we've got a hell of a chance of producing some big upsets."
AUSTRALIA: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Michael Hussey, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Nathan Bracken (12th man to be named).
SOUTH AFRICA (from) - Graeme Smith (captain), AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Ashwell Prince, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel, Johan Botha, Charl Langeveldt, Garnett Kruger.
