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Steve Waugh to miss PM's tour match

Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh's name is conspicuous by its absence from the Australian Prime Minister's XI which will play the touring Indians in Canberra on December 7.

The annual limited-overs tour match, revived by former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke in 1983, usually sees the Aussie skipper in action, if not leading the team, but the Australian Cricket Board said Waugh will be travelling to Adelaide with the Australian team on the day of the PM's game to prepare for the first Test against India starting on December 10.

Western Australia's Simon Katich - tipped as future Test captain - will lead thus John Howard's line-up at the Manuka Oval.

Waugh's predecessor Mark Taylor had led the side against England last year. Michael Slater captained the team the previous year, and before him Allan Border - two seasons after his retirement from international cricket.

Canberra-raised Michael Bevan led the team in 1995-96 but apart from the 1993-94 game, which clashed with a Test, the Australian captain of the day had been on hand for the prime minister's match.

The side chosen for the match features many of the rising stars of Australian cricket.

New Test cap Brett Lee will spearhead the PM's pace attack, while promising South Australian batsman David Fitzgerald gets his chance to impress.

The team: Simon Katich (capt), Shane Lee (vice-capt), Graham Cunningham, David Fitzgerald, Brad Haddin, Ian Harvey, Brad Hodge, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Daniel Marsh, Andrew Symonds, Brad Williams.

Agencies