Young players Nathan Hauritz and Michael Clarke will return to one-day
international cricket after Australian selectors made two changes for
the third match against the West Indies in St Lucia.
Hauritz will replace paceman Brett Lee while Clarke comes in for Adam
Gilchrist in the only changes to the team which took a 2-0 lead in the
seven-match series in Jamaica last weekend.
Gilchrist and Lee have been rested, enabling Jimmy Maher to take over as
wicketkeeper in a relatively young team which has the task of winning
Australia's 20th consecutive one-day match.
Batsman Darren Lehmann remained sidelined with a calf injury while
all-rounder Ian Harvey was overlooked despite recovering from a stomach
muscle problem.
Clarke played his only one-day international in January, making an
unbeaten 39 in Australia's victory over England in Adelaide.
The right-handed batsman played one first-class match last month during
the Test tour and remained in the Caribbean to replace injured batsman
Damien Martyn.
Hauritz has played five one-day matches, but none since September 5 last
year when he claimed 4-39 from 10 overs in Australia's tight win over
Kenya in Nairobi.
The Queensland off-spinner has spent plenty of days on tour since as
part of the Test squad which played Pakistan in Colombo and Sharjah
before he was called into the World Cup squad when Shane Warne was
banned for taking an illegal substance.
Hauritz will join Brad Hogg as specialist spinners, although Hogg had a
sore face after he was struck by a ball during Australia's training
session.
A shot from Andrew Symonds bounced off a post and hit Hogg above the lip
but he is expected to play.
Maher, who made an unbeaten century in his only first-class appearance
for Australia last month, will take the gloves for the third time in
one-day internationals.
Lehmann, who injured his calf in the opening match last Saturday, will
be reassessed before Saturday's fourth match in Trinidad.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Jimmy Maher, Michael
Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Bevan, Brad Hogg, Andrew Bichel, Nathan
Hauritz, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee (12th man).
West Indies: Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan (v-c), Omari Banks, Carlton Baugh, David Bernard, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ricardo Powell, Devon Smith.