Symonds out for clash with Redbacks

Queensland have lost Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden, but James Hopes and Ashley Noffke have been passed fit for the Pura Cup game against South Australia starting on Friday. Hopes and Noffke were cleared of their hamstring complaints after fitness tests at the Gabba while Symonds was ruled out with his ankle problem to join Hayden (knee) on the sidelines.

Hayden has been replaced by Nick Kruger, who is in line to play his first game for Queensland since the 2002-03 Pura Cup final, and the allrounder Aaron Nye comes in for Symonds. Kruger has had three shoulder reconstructions, but he averaged 55 for the Queensland Academy of Sport last season and scored 180 for his club Valley three weeks ago.

Noffke will be part of a strong attack that also includes Mitchell Johnson and Michael Kasprowicz while South Australia will have the services of Shaun Tait. Tait and Noffke will be trying to re-show their credentials ahead of the Chappell-Hadlee Series in two weeks.

Queensland squad Nick Kruger, Shane Watson, Clinton Perren, Jimmy Maher (capt), Aaron Nye, Chris Simpson, James Hopes, Ashley Noffke, Chris Hartley (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Michael Kasprowicz, Daniel Doran.

South Australia squad Matthew Elliott, Shane Deitz, Mark Cosgrove, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Adcock (capt), Andy Delmont, Graham Manou (wk), Ryan Harris, Jason Gillespie, Dan Cullen, Paul Rofe, Shaun Tait.