Horror summer gets worse for Hauritz

Queensland will rely on speed rather than spin after dumping Nathan Hauritz for the Pura Cup match against South Australia at the Gabba, which begins on Thursday. Mitchell Johnson was recalled for the first time since 2003 and could be part of an intimidating pace quartet as Queensland, who are currently third, chase a place in the final.

The Bulls have also added Shane Watson, Martin Love and Lachlan Stevens to the squad while Ryan Le Loux, the legspinner, was dropped alongside Hauritz. Four months ago Hauritz dismissed Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman on Test debut, but his Pura Cup figures show only six wickets at an average of 96. "While Nathan's ING Cup form was pretty sound, we felt we needed more from him in the first-class arena at this stage of the season," Ray Phillips, the chairman of selectors, said. "We will keep monitoring his form at club level and at Bulls training."

Johnson's left-arm pace has been impressive in a couple of one-day starts and he is in line to be part of an attack containing Andy Bichel, Joe Dawes and Ashley Noffke. Watson strained his side in the VB Series finals and will play as a batsman while Love has recovered from a hand injury. Stevens, the allrounder called into Queensland's past two ING Cup matches, will make his debut if selected in the final 11.

Darren Lehmann leads South Australia while Daniel Cullen, the ING Cup's Best New Talent winner and an aggressive offspinner, could be the only front-line slow bowler on show. South Australia are in last place, two points behind Tasmania, while Queensland are level with New South Wales on 28 points, two in arrears of Western Australia.

Queensland Jimmy Maher (capt), Brendan Nash, Martin Love, Shane Watson, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, Wade Seccombe (wk), Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Mitchell Johnson, Joe Dawes, Lachlan Stevens.

South Australia Darren Lehmann (capt), Graham Manou (wk), Callum Ferguson, Daniel Harris, Nathan Adcock, Ryan Harris, Greg Blewett, Paul Rofe, Cameron Borgas, Tom Plant, Daniel Cullen, Shaun Tait.