Cricket: Katich dropped, Warne and Lehmann to face NZ

12.05pm

SYDNEY - Simon Katich and Nathan Hauritz have been dropped from the Australian cricket team named for the first test against New Zealand in Brisbane starting on Thursday week.

The pair, who played in the fourth test loss to India last week, have made way for Darren Lehmann and Shane Warne respectively.

Michael Clarke retains his place after a sensational start to his test career in India, where he topped the batting and bowling averages.

Paceman Brett Lee has been included in the 12-man squad but looms as the likely 12th man, having played only one first-class match since breaking down with injury on the tour to Sri Lanka in February.

Lee was unable to break back into the starting 11 in the four tests in India as fellow pacemen Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz all performed strongly.

Lehmann has been included subject to a fitness test on his injured hamstring and Katich could have a reprieve if Lehmann fails to recover.

Warne has been included despite suffering a broken thumb which kept him out of the fourth test in Mumbai.

National selection panel chairman Trevor Hohns said Warne had recovered enough to warrant selection.

Hohns said it was a tough selection meeting, with Katich and Hauritz unlucky to miss out.

"Both Simon and Nathan performed exceptionally in India and it was a very difficult decision to leave them out," Hohns said in a statement.

"However, Darren is a highly-respected, experienced campaigner and is still our preferred choice at this stage, as long as his injured hamstring is fully recovered."

It is the second time this year Katich has been dropped after he made way for Andrew Symonds for the first two tests on the tour of Sri Lanka.

Katich was the third highest run-scorer for Australia on the Indian tour and Hohns said he would play for Australia in the future.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann (subject to fitness), Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee.

- AAP