Kasprowicz edges out Lee for opening battle

Michael Kasprowicz has been preferred to Brett Lee for the first Test against New Zealand, starting at Christchurch tomorrow (March 10). After days of speculation the Australian selectors have decided to show faith in Kasprowicz, despite the powerful case Lee made during recent ODI's.

The choice for who should support Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie has provided the selectors with one of their toughest decisions in recent years. Lee sat out the whole of the Australian Test summer, but has produced some impressive performances during the VB series and the recently completed five-match ODI series against New Zealand.

But since returning to the Test match team, against Sri Lanka last year, Kasprowicz has provided excellent support - and has proved to be another wicket-taking option for Ricky Ponting. His 47 wickets in the period have come at 23.74 apiece and just as it is tough on Lee, it would have been equally tough on Kasprowicz to have missed out.

Ricky Ponting says the difficulty in making the decision is highlighted by the fact that New Zealand will be relieved not to see Lee in the team. He told The Australian newspaper: "I know if I was in their side and in their shoes and looked at a team sheet and saw his name wasn't on it, I think I would be reasonably relieved at this stage of the tour."

Kasprowicz missed out on Australia's last Test match, against Pakistan at Sydney in January, when they opted for two spinners and Shane Watson was given his debut. But now the selectors have reverted to their traditional line-up, with Matthew Hayden having been passed fit and Simon Katich coming into the middle-order.