Cricket: Australia add pace of Lee to Test squad

AUSTRALIA'S SELECTORS yesterday named a 12-man squad for the second Test against India which starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day. There was only one change from the side that beat India by 285 runs in the first Test in Adelaide, with the pace bowler Brett Lee replacing Colin Miller.

Lee, who has been described by Australia's captain, Steve Waugh, as the world's fastest bowler, is the only uncapped player in the squad although the 23-year-old did carry the drinks in Australia's third Test victory over Pakistan last month.

Mark Waugh, who was chosen for his 99th Test, retained his place despite concerns about his form with the bat. He has scored just 18 runs in his past five Test innings after making a hundred in the first Test against Pakistan. India have delayed naming their team until later in the week.

New Zealand yesterday offered the 24-year-old batsman Mathew Sinclair his Test debut against West Indies in the second Test in Wellington which also begins on Sunday. Sinclair was called up to replace the injured Matt Horne, whose finger was broken by a delivery from the West Indian fast bowler Franklyn Rose during New Zealand's nine-wicket win in the first Test in Hamilton on Monday. New Zealand lead the two Test series 1-0.

Sinclair, an Australian-born right-handed batsman, has the highest first- class average of any current player in New Zealand (45.96) and averaged 104.60 in last year's domestic first-class competition. He also scored 182 for New Zealand A against England A this season and top scored - albeit with a modest 38 - for the same side against the touring West Indies.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD (Second Test v India, Melbourne, Sunday): S R Waugh (capt), M J Slater, G S Blewett, J L Langer, M E Waugh, R T Ponting, A C Gilchrist (wkt), S K Warne, D W Fleming, G D McGrath, M S Kasprowicz, B Lee.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD (Second Test v West Indies, Wellington, Sunday): S P Fleming (capt), N J Astle, C L Cairns, C D McMillan, D J Nash, S B O'Connor, A C Parore (wkt), M S Sinclair, C M Spearman, G R Stead, D L Vettori, P J Wiseman.