Australian squads for Top End Tour announced

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today announced that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen a 13-man Test and 13-man one-day international squad for the historic Top End Tour against Bangladesh in Cairns and Darwin in July and August.

The Test squad is:

The one-day international squad is:

* Damien Martyn's selection is subject to fitness, following minor surgery to a fractured right index finger. His fitness will be assessed ahead of the first VB one-day international in Cairns on 6 August.

The Test and one-day squads include no new faces following Australia's successful Travelex Tour of the West Indies, with selectors naming Australia's two strongest possible sides.

Western Australian batsman Damien Martyn misses selection for the 3 Test series following recent surgery to a fractured right index finger, while left arm spinner Brad Hogg retains his place as support for Stuart MacGill.

NSP Chairman Trevor Hohns said Damien Martyn's non-selection in the Test squad was to ensure he can be fully prepared for international cricket. Martyn, however, has been included in the 13-man one-day international squad subject to fitness.

"Damien Martyn hasn't been chosen for the Test match because his injured finger just isn't quite right," Hohns said.

"The medical staff are concerned with his lack of preparation and at this stage we're committed to making sure Damien gets himself 100 per cent right."

Hohns said cricket fans in Cairns and Darwin deserved to see Australia's two world champion teams in action.

"We were always going to name our strongest possible sides. There was never any doubt about that.

"The players want to play in this series and they thoroughly deserve that opportunity."

"The entire squad is extremely excited about playing in the Top End. It's going to be a history making tour and the people of Darwin and Cairns have every right to see our two best sides in action."

The fixture for the Top End Tour 2003 is: