McGrath picked for international comeback

Katich and Jaques win opening race

Cricinfo staff

September 11, 2006

Phil Jaques has been given a chance ahead of Matthew Hayden at Kuala Lumpur © Getty Images

Simon Katich and Phil Jaques will get the first chance to audition for an opening berth after Matthew Hayden was omitted for match one of the tri-series in Malaysia on Tuesday. Ricky Ponting also confirmed Glenn McGrath would make his international return against West Indies in Kuala Lumpur after nine months away due to his wife Jane's illness.

While the inclusion of McGrath was expected, the pairing of Katich and Jaques was a surprise, but the team is tinkering as Adam Gilchrist, the usual opener, stays at home in Perth. Jaques, the New South Wales left-hander, has appeared in only two one-day internationals and Australia's initial experiments look to the future instead of the past.

Hayden was chosen for his first one-day tour in more than a year on this trip, but he will have to wait for his chance in the large squad of 18, which will appear in four preliminary fixtures over the next two weeks. Other notable absentees from the first side were Michael Hussey, the tour vice-captain, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee and Damien Martyn, while the emerging trio of Dan Cullen, Mitchell Johnson and Mark Cosgrove was given an opportunity to perform.

"It's been hard to map it all out to tell you the truth," Ponting told AFP. "We're looking to give equal game time to all the players here, some guys will get two games, some three games, so it's just the way we've worked it out."

Ponting said the bowlers would also be rotated to ease them back into competition after a five-month break. "We might have to [bowl short spells]," he said. "It might be the same for all our bowlers, these sorts of conditions after the long break we've had, it's going to be hard for anyone, doesn't matter how much work you've done in the off-season."

Australia Simon Katich, Mark Cosgrove, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Dan Cullen, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath.

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Rusty reflexes and reputations to defend

Ponting primes Katich for opening slot

Players/Umpires

Phil Jaques

Simon Katich

Glenn McGrath

Ricky Ponting

Series/Tournaments

DLF Cup

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Australia

West Indies