Cricket: Hey Katich, would you like a game?

By RICHARD BOOCK

The unceremonious axing of Australian batsman Simon Katich has comfortably overtaken Stephen Fleming's mystery illness as the most ominous sign for the New Zealanders.

At a time when New Zealand's test depth is looking seriously lean, the Australian selectors have been faced with an overflow of quality contenders after the return to fitness of batsman Darren Lehmann.

Faced with leaving out one of Michael Clarke, Lehmann or Katich for the opening test, the Australian selection panel yesterday opted for the latter, naming a 12-man squad that included leg-spinner Shane Warne.

The world's highest wicket-taker had been under an injury cloud after suffering a damaged thumb, but has evidently mended enough to take his place in the test XI for the Gabba.

But by far the biggest news yesterday was the demise of Katich who, for the second time this year, has been sacrificed on Australia's altar of talent, despite averaging more than 40 with the bat over the past 12 months.

The New South Wales captain was also unlucky to be dropped earlier this year against Sri Lanka, when Andrew Symonds was brought in to make his debut.

The only consolation for Katich was that he may have been forced to miss the test anyway after being struck down by a virus and having to withdraw from the NSW side to play New Zealand, starting today.

Familiar names in the NSW side include Stuart MacGill, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark and tearaway paceman Brett Lee - who is expected to be named as 12th man at Brisbane.

The news on Fleming yesterday was still obscure, although insiders report a slight improvement in his condition and a continued hope that he will be ready to join his team-mates by Saturday at the latest.

Fleming has been lowered by an undiagnosed virus that he may have contracted in Bangladesh - initially feared to be malaria - which induces periods of sleepiness and extreme fatigue.

The skipper has since been cleared of any malaria concerns, but is apparently still searching for energy and is convalescing at his Wellington home.

New Zealand yesterday took the precaution of adding Craig McMillan to the side as cover for Fleming, and have named Scott Styris as captain for the four-dayer starting this morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Styris' promotion was something of a surprise choice, but less so after coach John Bracewell explained that ODI skipper Daniel Vettori would be rested to recover from a "slight" shoulder complaint.

Joining Vettori on the sideline are seamer Kyle Mills and McMillan, who was dropped from the test squad after the 3-0 loss to England.

The teams

New Zealand: Scott Styris (c), Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Jacob Oram, Gareth Hopkins, Paul Wiseman, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Chris Martin.

NSW: Brad Haddin (c), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Phil Jaques, Jason Kejza, Brett Lee, Greg Mail, Stuart MacGill, Matthew Nicholson, Aaron O'Brien, Matthew Phelps, Dominic Thornely.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee