Lee, Bichel vie for role in second Test

Australia named an unchanged 12-man squad on Thursday for the second Ashes Test against England starting on November 21 in Adelaide.

While the batting order appears settled, despite ongoing speculation regarding 37-year-old captain Steve Waugh's playing future, Australia's fastest bowler Brett Lee is competing with Andy Bichel for a place in the starting 11.

Lee was dropped for last week's first Test in Brisbane, which Australia won by 384 runs, and responded by taking 10 wickets for New South Wales in an interstate match against Tasmania.

Bichel took 2-74 in England's first innings, removing tailenders Andy Caddick and Ashley Giles, and was not called upon by Waugh in the second innings as Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne skittled England out for 79 runs in 28.2 overs.

Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said on Thursday selectors had considered including a second spinner for the Adelaide Test.

"There was the option to select two spinners in the squad but we retained the same balance of attack we had in Brisbane," Hohns said in an Australian Cricket Board (ACB) statement.

"That balance of three fast bowlers and one spinner in the final 11 has worked well for us in the past in most conditions and did the job well for us at the Gabba (in Brisbane) so we saw no reason to change that mix for this Test match."

Uncapped Queensland off-break bowler Nathan Hauritz, 21, who has played five one-day internationals, and New South Wales leg-break bowler, Stuart MacGill, 31, who has the impressive Test record of 82 wickets at 25.01 from 17 matches, will be considered again for the fifth Test in January where the wicket normally takes turn.

Australia:
Steve Waugh (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel.

Mail Cricket Editor