Bowling coach Craig McDermott expects Australia to take an unchanged attack into the fourth Ashes cricket test against England, starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Fast bowler Ryan Harris has a sore knee but McDermott is confident he will be fit to take his place beside fellow quicks Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle and off-spinner Nathan lyon. McDermott calls the lineup, which has bowled Australia to a 3-0 series lead, the best in world cricket.
“They’ve all performed as a unit fantastically well,” he said. “We have the best attack in the world at the moment.”
McDermott said Harris had some pain in his knee but was likely to play. “I wouldn’t say there’s any doubt, he’s just sore,” he said.
McDermott refused to be drawn on the sudden retirement of England off-spinner Graeme Swann.
“That’s their problem, I suppose,” he said. “I’m more concerned about how our bowlers are preparing come Boxing Day.”
Off-spinner lyon said he was an admirer of Swann and believed his absence is a boost to Australia as it closes on a 5-0 series whitewash.