11 November 2004	Thursday	27 Ramazan 1425

SYDNEY, Nov 10: The rising star of Australian cricket, batsman Michael Clarke, was named on Wednesday in the team to open this month's Test series against New Zealand, replacing a luckless Simon Katich.

Darren Lehmann, who was at risk of losing his spot to Clarke, remained in the 12-man squad subject to full recovery from a hamstring injury and spinmeister Shane Warne has also made a comeback from a fractured thumb.

The other player dropped from the team which achieved a historic victory in Australia's Test series against India last month was young spin bowler Nathan Hauritz, who lost his spot to Warne.

Paceman Brett Lee was also retained, but looked likely to again be the 12th man after failing to bowl a single over during the India series.

Clarke's sensational Test debut in India, where he was called in to replace injured captain Ricky Ponting, gave Australian selectors their toughest task in years in deciding the team to play New Zealand.

Clarke, 23, made 151 in his debut innings in Bangalore and topped both the team's batting and bowling averages after taking six wickets for only nine runs in the fourth Test in Bombay.

Katich, 29, was also on fire with the third highest batting average in India, but he was finally dropped in favor of the more experienced Lehmann, 34.

Katich could be recalled however if Lehmann fails to recover fully from the hamstring tear he suffered in the fourth India Test.

"Both Simon and Nathan performed exceptionally in India and it was a very difficult decision to leave them out," said Trevor Hohns, chairman of the Australian selectors.

"However, Darren is a highly-respected, experienced campaigner and is still our preferred choice at this stage, as long as his injured hamstring is fully recovered," he said.

"Darren was the vice captain for much of the tour in India, and his form over the past 12 months has been very consistent, particularly on the tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year where he posted two centuries," he said.

Lehmann has hit five centuries in his last 14 Tests.

Hohns said Clarke had confirmed his position as the hope for Australian cricket's future with his achievements in India.

"Michael Clarke demonstrated what an exciting prospect he is in India, and we have rewarded his performances in the sub-continent by giving him an opportunity on home soil against New Zealand," he said.

The selectors also paid tribute to Katich, with Hohns saying they were "very confident that he will play in the Australian Test team again in the not too distant future".

The first Test match opens in Brisbane on November 18.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist (vice-capt), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee.-AFP