Sydney, Mar. 25 (ANI): Former Australian leg spinner Stuart MacGill has endorsed off-spinner Marcus North as the first-choice spinner against England and said specialist tweaker Bryce McGain was never in contention for the Ashes, even before his horrific debut against South Africa.

MacGill, who took 208 Test wickets for Australia, said he would stick with North given there was enough grunt in the pace attack.

"As a spin bowler, the reason I''m comfortable with having Marcus North as the No. 1 spinner at this particular time is because we have some serious fast bowling stocks," Fox Sports quoted MacGill, as saying.

"We''ve still got Brett Lee and Stuart Clark to come back into the squad, Doug Bollinger never got a start in South Africa and then you had Andrew McDonald.

"Hilfy (Ben Hilfenhaus) did a good job in South Africa but he could be struggling for the Ashes.

North, better known for his batting, was struck down with a virus before the third Test but finished with a combined 2-98 off 38 overs in the first two Tests.

McGain turns 37 Wednesday and, according to Shane Warne''s mentor Terry Jenner, his Ashes hopes look dead in the water. (ANI)