10 March 2005	Thursday	28 Muharram 1426

CHRISTCHURCH, March 9: A rampant Australia start firm favourites in the first cricket Test against New Zealand starting here on Thursday with speed demon Brett Lee at his blistering best after tormenting the Black Caps in the one-day series.

As the tourists aim for a clean sweep in the Tests to complement the 5-0 drubbing they handed out in the one-day series, their ranks have been further bolstered with opening batsman Matthew Hayden declared fit after injuring a shoulder in the second One-day International.

The New Zealand Black Caps have attempted to put a brave face on the Tests, adamant that they have put the morale-shattering one-day fixtures behind them, and they even practised in their whites to get themselves into five-day mode. But little has changed in the make-up of the teams and the New Zealand batsmen have shown themselves unable to cope with the lightning pace of Lee.

He was the scourge of the New Zealand batsmen in the one-dayers and has warned he is in the right frame to better the 160.8 kilometre (99.7 mile) an hour delivery - his fastest and second only to Shoaib Akhtar's 161kmh in 2002 - which he let fly in the last one-day match.

"To see that 161 come up was a pretty amazing thing and I feel I can definitely go a bit quicker ... it felt like I was going close to flat-out but it feels deep down there's a bit more petrol in the tank," he said.

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 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 pace man'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 pace man Daryl Tuffey facing a misconduct charge over an off-the-field incident.

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