Australia recall Watson, MacGill for Super Test

Watson replaced Martyn, who was dropped after Ashes loss, while MacGill took the spot of injured bowler Tait.

All-rounder Shane Watson and leg spinner Stuart MacGill have been included in the Australian team to face the World XI in the super series Test starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

HT Image

Watson replaced specialist batsman Damien Martyn, who was dropped after Australia's Ashes series loss, while MacGill took the spot of injured fast bowler Shaun Tait.

Middle-order batsman Brad Hodge was named 12th man while Michael Clarke moved up the batting order to four.

The World XI delayed the naming of their team until Friday morning but Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was omitted from the initial 13-man squad.

Shoaib performed below his best in last week's one-day series in Melbourne, which the Australians won 3-0.

He conceded 110 runs without taking a wicket from 17 overs in the first two matches of the series and did not play in the third game.

Squads:

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Stuart MacGill, Brad Hodge (12th man).

Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia), Rudi Koertzen (South Africa).