Brett Lee falls just short in quest for maiden century

Australian paceman Brett Lee fell agonizingly short of his maiden first class century Tuesday when he was caught on 97 in the interstate cricket final between New South Wales and Victoria.

Lee's dogged innings put his NSW side in a dominant position as the final heads into its fifth and last day, with Victoria on 2-96 and chasing an almost impossible target of 629 for victory.

Lee, who has signed a 900,000 US dollar contract for the Indian Premier League, reached a career high score in first class cricket and was within three runs of his first ton when he was caught and bowled by Victoria's Peter Siddle.

MacGill Expects Aussie Recall

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill expects an immediate recall to the Australia side, despite not playing a first-class match in more than three months.

The 37-year-old returns to the New South Wales line-up for this weekend's crucial Pura Cup clash with South Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground after undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome and has already marked the date of his return to the national team.

With this month's trip to Pakistan looking likely to be called off, MacGill is demanding a spot in the squad to tour the Caribbean in May and June.

"I've always been on the plane to the West Indies from my point of view,"

MacGill said on Thursday.

"I know that might sound a bit arrogant but it's important for me to treat things as business as usual.

"When sportsmen make such a big deal of their goals it can become all consuming.

"My most important goal will be achieved tomorrow, playing for New South Wales.

"I've got a good record and I'm pretty sure that will get me an international match every now and again."

Test great Shane Warne believes late bloomer Bryce McGain is the form spinner in interstate cricket but should only tour if MacGill is unfit.

"I think Bryce McGain to me has clearly been the standout spinner of the competition this year,"

Warne said.

"If the selectors are going to take a spinner on a tour - whatever the next tour's going to be - I think Bryce McGain should definitely be the number one spinner if Stuart MacGill's injured or not playing.

"At the moment he hasn't played so we've got to look at somebody to take away so Bryce McGain to me would be the number one spinner."

ODI stars back for NSW in Shield final

New South Wales will be boosted by the return of four Australian Test and one-day internationals for the Sheffield Shield cricket final against Victoria starting here on Saturday.

Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark and Brett Lee were Monday named in a 13-man NSW squad after playing for Australia in this month's tri one-day series loss to India.

Making way for their return are Peter Forrest, Usman Khawaja and Matthew Nicholson.

NSW - Simon Katich (captain), Nathan Bracken, Beau Casson, Mark Cameron, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Phillip Hughes, Phil Jaques, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Grant Lambert, Stuart MacGill, Dominic Thornely.