Australia Name Unchanged Squad for Sydney Test

Melbourne: Ricky Ponting has declared himself a certain starter for the Sydney Test beginning on Sunday despite suffering more pain than he expected in his hurt elbow during the win at the MCG. Australia have named an unchanged 12-man squad for the second Test, resisting the urge to add Steven Smith as a second spinner following Pakistan's struggles against Nathan Hauritz in Melbourne.

Clint McKay was retained in the group but is expected to be 12th man again, following a bowling performance Ponting described as the best from an Australian Test team in a couple of years. It included Hauritz's first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, and though Ponting said a second spinner would be an option for Sydney, the selectors decided against naming Smith.

Smith was added at the MCG as cover for Hauritz, who had a groin injury in the lead-up to the Test.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, Clint McKay.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
West Indies vs Bangladesh - 3rd T20I Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan - 2nd ODI South Africa vs Pakistan - 2nd ODI 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 21, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan - December 22, 12:00 GMT 3rd Test - Australia v India at Brisbane Match drawn 2nd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 27 runs

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