Symonds passed fit for South Africa clash

Australia have received a boost ahead of their Group A showdown with South Africa at Basseterre on Saturday, with the news that their key allrounder, Andrew Symonds, has been passed fit to play in his first match since tearing his right biceps on February 2.

Symonds, who has been steadily working his way back to fitness during Australia's three weeks in the Caribbean, described himself as "95% fit" after coming through his final practice session at Warner Park. "I wouldn't go out there if I didn't think I could last a full 100 overs," he said.

Symonds' return means Australia have dropped the man who came in to replace him, Brad Hodge, who was named Man of the Match after scoring a century in his last outing against Holland. "There's an argument that Brad Hodge should be in the side," Symonds said. "He's played very well and is very unlucky to be dropped.

"I'm feeling for him right now, because it's happened to him before. But that's the way it goes. I spoke to him earlier and he hasn't given up by any means. He'll just have to wait and if he gets an opportunity, he's the perfect man to come in and take over a batting role."

The other alternative would have been to remove the spinner Brad Hogg, a man whom South Africa's stroke-making top-order are sure to target given Warner Park's small boundaries, although that decision would have put too much of a burden on Symonds's own offbreaks. Though his batting has looked pretty uninhibited in the nets, his bowling and throwing are the areas that have not yet been adequately tested.

"Today, I threw very firmly with relatively no pain at all," Symonds said. "The only thing I haven't done is had a full game and match-fitness is probably the only thing that is an unknown. The adrenalin of being back out there in this competition will probably be enough to get me through it.

"I guess we're expecting a good old-fashioned Australia-South Africa showdown. There will be no love lost. I think it's a game that everyone is looking forward to watching. We're certainly looking forward to playing it. It's nice to play against the stronger sides. We've had a couple of games when we haven't been pushed or tested, so now it's really time to see where we're at."

Australia 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Mike Hussey, 7 Shane Watson, 8 Brad Hogg, 9 Nathan Bracken, 10 Glenn McGrath, 11 Shaun Tait.