Potchefstroom (South Africa), Feb. 20: Former South African captain Kepler Wessels feels that Australia should consider handing batsman-off-spinner Marcus North his Test debut in place of bowling all-rounder Andrew McDonald in next week''s first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

Wessels believes it is vital for the tourists to play six specialist batsmen against the much vaunted South African pace attack led by Dale Steyn, as he expects conditions to favour fast bowlers.

"It would be a crazy call not to go into the Wanderers Test match with six specialist batsmen," Fox Sports quoted Wessels as telling AAP on Wednesday.