Australia named squad for tour of West Indies

Australia on Tuesday named a revamped Test squad for the upcoming tour of the West Indies, recalling run-maker Simon Katich and including two spin bowlers.

Veteran leg spinner Stuart MacGill and left-arm spinner Beau Casson are among 15 players selected in the squad for the three-Test series, while Michael Clarke was named vice-captain after the retirement of veteran Adam Gilchrist.

Cricket Australia also named a 14-man squad for the five one-day internationals against the West Indies, which includes batsman Michael Hussey's younger brother David for the first time.

Chair of national selectors Andrew Hilditch said 26-year-old Clarke would be vice-captain to Ricky Ponting for both squads after he demonstrated his leadership credentials during the summer.

"With Adam Gilchrist retiring after a stellar Australian career we have identified the need to look towards the future,"

Hilditch said in a statement.

Hilditch said 37-year-old MacGill, who has claimed 203 Test wickets since earning his baggy green in 1998, had used the domestic series to prove he was back to fitness after hand surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.

Casson also won selectors' attention during the summer, with the 25-year-old taking the wicket that won New South Wales the Sheffield Shield competition and finishing the season with 29 wickets at an average of 35.

David Hussey and Cameron White were selected for the one-day squad, alongside 24-year-old batsman Shaun Marsh, son of former Test opener Geoff Marsh.

Hilditch said paceman Nathan Bracken, who is recovering from knee surgery, had been selected for the one-day squad "completely subject to fitness."

Australia begins its tour of the West Indies with the first Test in Jamaica on May 22, moving to Antigua for the second from May 30 and the final Test in Barbados on June 12.

The one-day internationals, which will follow a one-off Twenty20 match on June 20, will be begin in St Vincent on June 24 and conclude on July 6 in St Kitts.

Test team: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Beau Casson, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Ashley Noffke, Andrew Symonds.

One-day squad: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Andrew Symonds, Cameron White.

Razzaq helps Hyderabad Heroes victory over Champs

The Hyderabad Heroes lead by Abdul Razzaq who scored 78 runs clinched second place in the groups stages thanks to a 7 run victory over the Mumbai Champs.

It was an important match for the hosts, who wanted to maintain their stupendous record at home before the semi final stage. In the end, the Heroes maintained their formidable record at home scoring their 5th straight win at home over the Mumbai Champs by 7 runs.

Pat Symcox predicted a rough surface in his pitch report, excepting the track to support the spinners. Chris Harris won the toss and elected to bat. With 3 fours off Van der Wath in the first over, the Heroes mainstay Maher set the tone for the match.

At the end of the 5th over, the Heroes were placed at 35/1 with Van der Wath sending back the dangerous Maher for 26. The spin pair for the Champs in Yadav & Iyer, was doing a good job in containing the batsmen. At the half way mark of their innings, the Heroes were placed at a modest 58/1.

Razzaq & Rayudu were working a good partnership of over 55 runs taking the score to 98/1 at the end of the 14th over. Razzaq was carrying out carnage on the Mumbai bowlers and brought about his fifty with a lovely boundary in the 15th over. The partnership was going strong with both the batsmen playing shots all across the ground & brining their century stand off only 68 balls in the 16th over. Rayudu brought his fifty with a boundary to fine leg in the 17th over.

With three overs to go, the Heroes were all set for a big onslaught placed handsomely at 153/1. The partnership finally came to an end by a spectacular catch by Tino Best to send Rayudu back to the dugout for a well made 55. The onslaught finally resulted in the Heroes getting a formidable 176/2 in their allotted 20overs.

In reply, the Champs came out with a positive intent with Jadhav going after Kemp in the second over with two big hits to the boundary. However, Kemp had the last laugh sending Paul back to the dugout for 3. Razzaq came to the party with the ball, getting Jadhav nick one to the keeper leaving the Champs in a bit of bother at 22/2. The young Patil was carrying his good form in the tournament into this match taking his more formidable opponents to the cleaners with some big hit to the boundary

At the end of the 5th over, the Champs were placed at 52/2 scoring at over 10 runs per over. A 50 run partnership of only 33 balls, building between Morris & Patil kept Mumbai right in the hunt to achieve the mammoth target of 177 at the 8th over mark. At the half way mark, the Champs needed 86 runs off 60 balls with 8 wickets in hand. Just when Patil was running away with the match, Harris trapped the young Mumbai dynamite lbw for a well made 51 in the 11th over.

Reddy and Boje were turning in some good economical overs in the crucial middle stage of the Champs innings to put some serious pressure on the batsmen, soon the batsmen succumbed under pressure and the Champs were reduced to 110/5 at the end of the 14th over. With 3 overs to go the Champs needed 48 off 18 balls at a humongous 16 runs per over.

Morris took the initiative and with some lusty blows took the match right down to the last over, with the Champs needing 18 runs off 6 balls. In the end the Champs fell short in their valiant run chase by only 7 runs.