MacGill says he'll be ready for Brisbane

Stuart MacGill expects to play in the first Test against Sri Lanka and is confident he can prove his fitness after minor knee surgery. MacGill had the operation last month and missed New South Wales' opening Pura Cup match against Western Australia.

Now he has only the game against Queensland next week to convince the national selectors he is ready to replace Shane Warne. "I know I'll be fit to play," MacGill said in the Australian. "I expect to play against Queensland and I expect to play in Brisbane [for the first Test]."

The arthroscopic surgery has improved the movement in MacGill's knee, which he injured during the pre-season boot camp in 2006. He had hoped to play at the WACA but it was only two weeks after the operation.

"It wasn't sore but it felt a little bit weak," he told the paper. "I didn't want to rush it so I thought I'd do the right thing by everyone." If MacGill fails to be ready for the first Test, which starts on November 8, Australia will have to choose between playing a four-man pace attack or picking Brad Hogg or Dan Cullen to fill the spin duties.