MELBOURNE (Reuters)
Australia named forgotten legspinner Stuart MacGill in a squad of 12 for the first Test against South Africa in Adelaide which begins on Friday.

MacGill said he was surprised to learn he had replaced fast bowler Andrew Bichel, who was 12th man in all three Tests in the series against New Zealand.

MacGill, who boasts an impressive Test record of 75 wickets from 16 matches at an average of 25.02, has not played a Test alongside fellow legspinner Shane Warne for two years.

Australia's chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said MacGill had been told to keep his on-field behaviour under control and put aside any personal differences he may have with Warne, the nation's first-choice spinner and one of Wisden's five cricketers of the 20th century.

"I've spoken to Stuart and told him the other players don't have to fit in with him - he has to fit in with them," Hohns said.

"They (MacGill and Warne) are both highly paid professional sports people who are expected to do a job for Australia.

"It's up to them to put any personal issues aside and get on with it."

Warne, 32, has taken 413 wickets in 95 matches and is fifth on the list of all-time wicket-takers in Test cricket, one wicket behind Pakistan's Wasim Akram.

He missed Australia's 5-0 series victory at home against West Indies in 2000-01 because of a finger injury, and MacGill grabbed his opportunity, taking 16 wickets in four matches at an average of 31.31.

MacGill returned to the background as Warne replaced him in the side and struggled (10 wickets at 50.50) in Australia's 2-1 series defeat in India.

Warne then dominated England's batsmen in the 4-1 Ashes series victory this year by taking 31 wickets at 18.70.

He took six wickets in the recent series against New Zealand.

"I didn't dream of getting selected for this match, I was angling for the Sydney Test (in January)," MacGill said.

"I've been really happy with the way I've been bowling the last couple of weeks, ever since the game we (New South Wales state) played in Victoria."

MacGill played down the flattering statistic which showed he had taken 24 wickets to Warne's seven in the five Tests they had played together.

"I wouldn't say that I have outbowled him, he's the best spinner of all time," MacGill said.

"Statistically I've picked up some wickets, but wickets are often created by the person up the other end, and it's no accident."

MacGill was personally counselled by Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland in October after being fined $750 for verbally abusing an umpire in an interstate match.

He was also officially reprimanded after an incident involving Ramnaresh Sarwan, during the third Test against West Indies in Adelaide last December.

Australian team 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Mark Waugh, 5 Steve Waugh (capt), 6 Damien Martyn, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Shane Warne, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Brett Lee, 11 Glenn McGrath, 12 Stuart MacGill

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