Australia name Watson in SA tour squad

Australia named young all-rounder Shane Watson and recalled batsman Darren Lehmann on Wednesday to their 15-man squad for next month's three-Test tour of South Africa.

Stuart MacGill (82 wickets in 17 Tests) was also included after he combined with fellow leg-spinner Shane Warne to take 13 wickets in Australia's 10-wicket win over South Africa in the third Test in Sydney earlier this month.

Middle-order batsman Simon Katich, who made his Test debut on the 2001 Ashes tour, was overlooked.

Steve Waugh's team thrashed Shaun Pollock's Proteas 3-0 in the recent three-Test series in Australia to retain their place atop the world rankings.

But, under the ICC's complicated rankings system, the South Africans can replace Australia as the number one side if they draw the forthcoming series on home soil.

Watson, 20, has taken 22 wickets at 23.36 for Tasmania in interstate championship four-day matches this season, with best figures of six for 32.

The right-hander has also scored 292 runs at 29.20 with a highest score of 58 not out.

"Shane is an exciting player who has demonstrated maturity beyond his years while playing for Tasmania," chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said.

"He offers us a little bit of variety in the pace bowling department, and some depth in our batting line-up.

"He is a touch raw-boned but given the chance to be part of this squad, he will return an improved player."

Lehmann, the South Australia captain, has not played a Test since the fifth match of the 1998-99 Ashes series.

WINNING RUNS

The left-hander has an average of 28.50 from five Tests with two half-centuries. He also hit the winning runs for Australia in the 1999 World Cup final against Pakistan at Lord's.

Lehmann, 32 next month, is the leading run-scorer in interstate four-day championship matches this season, with 772 runs in seven games at an average of 64.33.

"Since that time (1998-99) he has dominated domestic cricket and fully deserves his chance to represent Australia at the Test level again," Hohns said.

Lehmann said he had tried not to get his hopes up.

"You hope for the one-day spot and see what happens from there, but to get a Test tour is very gratifying," he was quoted as saying on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website.

Australia's Test squad leave for South Africa on February 13. The squad for the seven-match, one-day series will be announced at a later date.

The first Test in Johannesburg starts on February 22.

Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland announced that team selection would no longer be the sole responsibility of the captain, vice-captain and coach on tour.

Sutherland said at least one selector would travel with touring parties from now on.

Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said the move would free senior players to concentrate on cricket rather than selection matters.

Australia squad - Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Andrew Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Stuart MacGill, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Mark Waugh.

Mail Cricket Editor