MacGill closes on domestic record

Stuart MacGill is poised to gain some small consolation at being overlooked for the Test tour of India tomorrow by becoming Australia's leading domestic one-day bowler.

MacGill, the New South Wales legspinner, needs only two Queensland scalps in the season-opening ING Cup match at the Gabba to surpass the Western Australian quick Jo Angel's 94 victims.

The new Blues skipper Brad Haddin foreshadowed an intriguing battle and backed MacGill to grab the record on a good Gabba batting wicket. "He's our leading one-day bowler and he's tough work in the one-day game," Haddin said. "He always enjoys bowling up here. The Gabba is one of his favourite places to bowl."

Leading the side in Simon Katich's absence, Haddin has been listed to bat at No. 4 behind Phil Jaques, Greg Mail and Matthew Phelps. "They may not be big names but we've been in the situation for the last few years, with the Waughs, Slaters and Bevans around, where they haven't had a game consistently," Haddin said. "But now their chance has come and they are good players."

The Blues have shown strong pre-season form in scoring convincing practice wins over Victoria and Tasmania this week on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland have flagged using the powerful Andy Bichel as a pinch-hitting No. 3 and Aaron Nye, the middle-order batsman, will make his one-day debut.

Queensland Jimmy Maher (c), Martin Love, Clinton Perren, Andrew Symonds, Aaron Nye, James Hopes, Chris Simpson, Wade Seccombe, Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Shane Jurgensen, Craig Philipson (likely 12th man).

New South Wales Brad Haddin (c), Phil Jaques, Greg Mail, Matthew Phelps, Dominic Thornely, Aaron O'Brien, Shawn Bradstreet, Matthew Nicholson, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill, Don Nash (likely 12th man).