England's Ian Bell has joined in the verbal fun and games in the run up to Thursday's deciding Test by declaring that he and his teammates are so buoyed by their 2-1 series lead that "in a way it would be nice to see Glenn McGrath playing at The Oval".

The side's youngest member says the England players will not be concerned if McGrath returns from injury.

McGrath, 35, has missed two of the four Ashes Tests this summer, and England have won both of them . Such is England's buoyant confidence after brilliant performances in the three games since their opening Test defeat at Lord's that they are hoping to prove a point or two to their nemesis of the last decade.

"I believe that's the feeling in the changing room," Bell told The Sporting Life. "It doesn't matter what XI is on the park, and in a way it would be nice to see Glenn McGrath playing at The Oval."

Errol Alcott, the Australia physiotherapist, admits that he is unable to predict whether McGrath's injured elbow would last the Test even if he was passed fit.

"It's very hard to imitate those stresses," he told The Courier-Mail. "Unless you can put them into first-class cricket to play a game and subject them to similar forces out in the middle, it's very hard to know with any certainty."

Alcott said McGrath's condition was improving and he wasn't feeling much pain in everyday activities. "Now we just need to step up to the next level of stress and that's out in the middle," he said.

England sides of the 1990s might have wilted under pressure at the prospect of McGrath returning for such a crucial match, but Bell says this team will be inspired by his presence. "If we can regain the Ashes and their best team is on the park that's the best thing for us. That would be fantastic. Whichever XI is out on the field we'll go and out play good cricket like we have done all series."

Meanwhile legspinner Stuart MacGill has emerged as a contender for Australia's 5th Test line-up.

MacGill, 34, has taken 160 wickets in 33 Tests since making his debut in 1998, but the pre-eminence of Shane Warne has restricted him to a walk-on role in the Australian squad during this series.

But MacGill has a tally of 39 wickets in only six Tests against England, and he could be called upon to replace the ineffectual Michael Kasprowicz and shore up an attack that relied too heavily on Shane Warne and Brett Lee at Trent Bridge.

"The Oval historically provides bounce and it provides turn," Australia coach John Buchanan told AFP.

"That aids both pace bowlers who hit the deck and spin bowlers because they actually get bounce with some turn. Therefore I am sure [chairman of selectors] Trevor Hohns would say Stuart MacGill is very much in the equation."

Buchanan would not be drawn on any other possible changes which might include replacing Matthew Hayden at the top of the order. Until recently Hayden was ranked as the top Test batsman in the world with an average in excess of 58, but he has failed to pass 70 in his last 30 innings and has been badly found out by England's pace attack throughout the summer.

2 Sep, 2005