London, June 29 The international career of Australian off spinner Nathan Hauritz is hanging in the balance after taking one wicket for 158 runs in a tour match against Sussex.

According to Fox Sports, the Australian team management has conceded that they are seriously thinking of leaving Hauritz on the sidelines in Cardiff, on a pitch that was tipped to take spin for the match, beginning on July 8.

Coach Tim Nielsen has received fresh intelligence that the Cardiff pitch may not be the spinner's paradise he suspected.

Nielsen is insisting that Australia was "without a doubt" toying with the idea of fielding four frontline quicks in the first Ashes Test.

"The more I am reading about the Cardiff pitch, maybe it's not going to be the spinning nightmare that everybody is talking about," Nielsen said.

"The quicks have had a lot of impact there, just looking at the stats there over the last couple of years, the opening bowlers have had some success.

"I am open to the idea of waiting to see what we get in Cardiff as far as the wicket is concerned."

If Australia does play four quicks it would save Marcus North's spot, despite his twin failures with the bat in the Sussex match.

Under a four-quick regime, North would become the frontline spinner, a role he played in South Africa this year. (ANI)