Gilchrist gives understudy a go at Lord's
Will Swanton - 5 June 2001

Queenslander Wade Seccombe will make his international debut at the home of cricket tomorrow after being named to replace Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist against Middlesex.

Seccombe was a late inclusion in the Ashes touring party to give Gilchrist a breather whenever the need arose during the three-month tour, but his call-up has come after only one week.

Gilchrist is not injured.

Rather, the wicketkeeper-opening batsman is easing his way into his duties, giving his talented understudy the honour of representing his country at Lord's, which has been on its present site since 1814.

Brett Lee flew in to London today but the Australian Test paceman, clocked at 96 miles per hour before suffering an elbow injury in February, will not play in any of this month's limited-overs games. He spent the afternoon resting before the squad attended a function at the Australian High Commission.

Michael Bevan, Damien Fleming and pace spearhead Glenn McGrath will also be rested against Middlesex, but they are most likely to play against Northamptonshire on Thursday.

McGrath's new ball partner, Jason Gillespie, will make his first appearance of the tour tomorrow, as will allrounders Ian Harvey and Andrew Symonds.

The Australians were swamped by British journalists and photographers at Lord's this morning, with Waugh, McGrath and Shane Warne the centre of attention for more than an hour.

Warne was encouraged by his match figures of 3-72 and 109 runs from two innings in the tour opener against Worcestershire.

"The wrong 'un came out pretty well, the change of pace was good, the flipper was better - I bowled two bad ones but the rest of them were good - and the change of pace was good," he said.

Australia plays back-to-back matches at Cardiff and Bristol - against Pakistan and England respectively - on the weekend to start its international limited overs campaign.

The one-dayer against Middlesex starts at 8pm (AEST) today.

AUSTRALIA: Steve Waugh (c), Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Ian Harvey, Andrew Symonds, Wade Seccombe, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Bracken (12th man to be named).

© 2001 AAP


Teams Australia, England.
First Class Teams Middlesex.
Players/Umpires Wade Seccombe, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Michael Bevan, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Ian Harvey, Andy Symonds, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Nathan Bracken.
Tours Australia in England