Aussie double trouble

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has indicated his side will play two spinners when tackling England this summer in a bid to increase its chances of regaining the Ashes.

Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill are in the frame to combine forces in order to thwart the English batting order with Ponting believing such a move will complement the Australian style.

"There is every chance we will play two (spinners)," Ponting told reporters on Tuesday, ahead of the side's Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand.

"It is something that will suit Australia, playing two spinners together."

Warne captured 40 wickets in last year's Ashes series while MacGill, who has taken 198 wickets in 40 career Tests, did not play.

Ponting was also confident paceman Glenn McGrath would recapture his form in time for the Ashes with the 36-year-old's best eluding him since returning to the game in October after taking a lengthy break to be with his wife while she underwent cancer treatment.

"I'm very happy with the way he's going," said Ponting.

"He knows his game and body very well. He has got some good overs under his belt here, impressed everyone with the way he bowled in the last game against India, particularly against Sachin Tendulkar."

The Australian captain refused to entertain theories the ongoing Champion's Trophy one-day series could derail the team's preparation for the Ashes series set to commence in Brisbane on Thursday November 23.

"We're training hard every day. It is not Test cricket but it is international cricket," he said.

"We've got four, five or six guys back in Australia who will come back into the Test team. When we return we'll have at least one first-class game before the first Test."

"We have over the last couple of years managed to switch pretty quickly from one-day cricket to Test cricket. Hopefully when we get home, the transition will be pretty smooth."

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