Gillespie, MacGill in Australia squad for first Te

Fast bowler Jason Gillespie and leg-spinner Stuart MacGill were recalled to the Australian team on Thursday for next week's first cricket Test against India at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The pair missed Australia's last Test against Zimbabwe in October as well as the triangular one-day series in India because of injury but have been passed fit to play in captain Steve Waugh's final series.

However, Australia's two main strike bowlers, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, remain sidelined by niggling injuries and were left out of the 12-man squad.

"We believe we have the necessary depth to adequately cover for both Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee," Australia's chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a statement.

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"With Jason Gillespie now available and Andy Bichel having gained experience against the Indian batsmen, we are satisfied that we have the necessary firepower to deal with their talented top-order," he said.

Pacemen Andy Bichel, Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken were also named in the squad with Bracken likely to carry the drinks after Simon Katich was retained.

Katich impressed the selectors with his all-round performance against Zimbabwe to keep his spot in the side ahead of Brad Hogg, who was dropped to make way for MacGill.

"Simon Katich retains his place in the squad following a solid performance against Zimbabwe and some excellent Pura Cup form," Hohns said.

"Once again Martin Love is unlucky not to be selected, particularly given his recent form, however Simon's combined ability with bat and ball is appealing. On the whole we think that this is a balanced squad," he said.

WELCOME NEWS

The return of MacGill and Gillespie comes as welcome news to an Australian team, which suddenly found itself short of top quality bowlers.

With Shane Warne already serving a 12-month suspension for a doping offence and McGrath out of action until late December, Australia's stocks were tested to the limit when Gillespie, Lee and MacGill all injured themselves playing against Zimbabwe.

McGrath is hoping to be back in time for the third Test starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day after undergoing ankle surgery while Lee, who opted for elective surgery on his troublesome ankle after tearing an abdominal muscle, is also expected to return this month.

Both Gillespie and MacGill broke down while bowling in the first test against Zimbabwe have fully recovered.

Australia are heavy favourites to win the four-match series with India but all eyes will be on Australia's retiring captain.

Waugh, the most capped player in test cricket history, announced on Wednesday he was pulling up stumps at the end of the series after a magnificent international career that began in 1985.

Australia - Steve Waugh (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Andy Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill, Brad Williams, Nathan Bracken (12th man to be named).