However, Ponting has already made it clear it will take a lot to make him bowl first if he wins the toss, given the heavy criticism four years ago when he sent England in and they scored more than 400 on the opening day.

'You can get a bit carried away and look into things too deeply,' Ponting said.

'There aren't many pitches you don't want to bat first on, and if that's the case you're bowling last and you want a spinner.

'We just have to make sure we get our thinking right.'

Dropping Hauritz becomes all the more difficult because he is the surprise of the tour. He and Ben Hilfenhaus are equal leading wicket-takers in the series, with nine apiece.