Lee set for Test comeback

Australia are considering bringing back express paceman Brett Lee for the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch which starts on Thursday.

Lee has not played a Test in more than 14 months but is poised to return after terrorising the Kiwis in the recent one-day series.

Captain Ricky Ponting told reporters on Wednesday that the team would not be finalised until the morning of the match. However, he said Lee's form in the one-day series, which Australia won 5-0, was a compelling reason to include him.

"I think at the moment that Brett's got a bit of a psychological edge over some of the New Zealand batsmen," said Ponting.

With Shane Warne the lone spinner and fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie almost assured of their places, Lee is vying with Michael Kasprowicz for the third paceman's role.

Kasprowicz has kept his place over the past year with a series of strong performances but Lee's superior form in the one-day arena is expected to sway the selectors.

"Brett's been outstanding on this tour," Ponting said. "I know if I was in their [New Zealand's] side and in their shoes and looked at a team sheet and saw his name wasn't on it, I think I would be reasonably relieved."

Favourites Australia are at full-strength for the three-match series, with opening batsman Matthew Hayden cleared to play after injuring his shoulder in the one-dayers.

New Zealand have several players out through injury and discarded paceman Daryl Tuffey facing a misconduct charge over an off-the-field incident.

Coach John Bracewell resisted the temptation to name two spinners on a pitch likely to turn when he overlooked Paul Wiseman for paceman Iain O'Brien, one of two uncapped players in the team.

CUMMING DEBUT

Craig Cumming will also make his Test debut, opening the batting with skipper Stephen Fleming, who has promoted himself up the order from number three.

"I think when the team needs it most, the captain should stand up," Fleming said.

Bracewell admitted he was concerned about the mental state of his team after their poor form in Tests over the past year and the one-day drubbing they took from Australia.

"There's no denying we have to shift our focus on Test match cricket because it hasn't been up to scratch for a while now," Bracewell said.

"The guys are all accepting of trying something different to almost shock them back into test match mode from the rush of one-day cricket."

There has been no lack of animosity between the two teams.

Bracewell set the tone for the series when he accused Lee of deliberately bowling waste-high full tosses as a way of unsettling his batsmen and Warne increased the tension with a scathing attack on New Zealand's coach.

"New Zealand are a very good side and they're very well led by [captain] Stephen Fleming...but I won't say well led by their coach," Warne said.

"I'm not sure how the players are getting along with John Bracewell but I wouldn't be listening to him."

Teams:

New Zealand - Stephen Fleming (captain), Craig Cumming, Hamish Marshall, Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.

Australia (probable) - Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath