Cricket: Krejza's crazy ride continues

Brisbane's weather looks set to rain on spinner Jason Krejza's parade, a week of showers threatening to "take him out of the equation" at the Gabba.

A heavy storm on Sunday night and showers and overcast skies forecast for the rest of the week increases Australia's chances of picking two all-rounders, Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson, for the first test against New Zealand, starting Thursday.

The weather has left the traditionally pace-friendly Gabba wicket looking even more inviting, something the hosts could exploit with a fast bowling quintet.

That is almost certain to be spearheaded by Brett Lee who appeared to shrug off the ill-effects of a virus to train strongly on a wet Monday, as did vice-captain Michael Clarke.

Gabba curator Kev Mitchell jnr admitted there would be plenty of juice on a green wicket when the covers are rolled back for the toss.

Mitchell, renowned for producing fast and bouncy tracks to provide something for each discipline, felt the only person frustrated more than him by the rain would be Krejza, who took an amazing 12 wickets in his test debut in Nagpur.

"Generally spin doesn't come into it until late in the match," he told AAP.

"(The rain) might take him out of equation.

"You'd have to imagine that with a good possibility of the covers being on for the next three days." Watson initially appeared the man most to lose with Symonds' return from the wilderness.

But both Queensland all-rounders provide something different with their respective bowling talents, which have reaped success in domestic cricket at the Gabba.

Watson has the pace and form in India to suggest he can play as a genuine third quick while Symonds relies more on swing with his medium-pacers which hoop around in humid Brisbane conditions.

Former skipper Steve Waugh advocated playing both all-rounders at the expense of a paceman but front-line quicks Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark are all licking their lips at the prospect of a grassy deck.

"The weather keeps going this way there is bound to be a bit of grass on the wicket," Clark said.

"I'd imagine it's a bit lively. It looked as though there was good pace and carry (in Friday night's Twenty20 game) and I suppose the moisture will only help that." It would be an extremely tough call for Krejza if he was made 12th man following the second best bowling debut in Australian test history.

But he already knows how little a slow bowler can get out of a Gabba green-top. In his only first-class match at the ground, on debut for NSW four years ago, he was given just one over.

Making it more painful, the off-spinner went for 18 runs with Symonds smashing three straight sixes.

"It wasn't a very memorable one, getting Andrew Symonds when he's on about 80 not out and I was thrown the ball to bowl one over before it started raining," Krejza recalled.

 

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