Melbourne, July 29 - Australian captain Ricky Ponting is in a dilemma on whether to play spinner Nathan Hauritz on the soggy Edgbaston pitch for the third Test beginning Thursday.

Though Ponting always prefers a frontline spinner, bad weather and local statistics have combined to force the Australians into a rethink.

'We've checked the stats for county games this season and spinners are averaging about 60 or 70 per wicket,' Ponting was quoted as saying in The Australian Wednesday.

'The numbers aren't compelling and with all this weather around, the curator claims it will be a typical English seamer.'

'The beauty of our team is that whatever we do we've got plenty of options, with Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Marcus North all able to bowl part-time spin.