Aussie trio dropped from Test squad after Ashes failure

Damien Martyn, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz paid the price for Australia’s Ashes failure Tuesday when they were axed from the Test squad to face a World XI next month.

Selectors opted to inject fresh blood into the 13-man Test squad, promoting promising all-rounder Shane Watson and batsman Brad Hodge, along with specialist spinner Stuart McGill.

Martyn, who averaged just 19.77 in the five Tests against England, becomes the latest Ashes casualty after Gillespie and Kasprowicz were dropped during the series as Australia vainly attempted a comeback.

With Cricket Australia’s inquest into the loss to England still underway, selectors decided against wholesale changes to the ageing Test team.

Opening batsman Matthew Hayden, another Ashes flop with an average of 35.33 for the series, retained his Test spot but was dropped from the 14-man one-day side.

Queensland all-rounder James Hopes, who made a century for Australia A in Pakistan this week, comes into the one-day squad along with Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg and Nathan Bracken.

The Super Series pits Australia against and International Cricket Council (ICC) World XI for three one-day matches in Melbourne and a single six-day Test in Sydney.

Meanwhile India hold a massive advantage at close of play on day one of the second Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club.

After visiting captain Sourav Ganguly put the home side into bat, India’s bowlers made short work of Zimbabwe’s batting line-up - running through them before tea for just 161.

Left-arm pace bowler Irfan Pathan continued his remarkable run of form, taking a career best seven for 59 from 15.2 probing overs.

The haul brings Pathan’s series tally to 16 wickets from just three completed Zimbabwean innings.

Harbhajan Singh chipped in with two wickets while Zaheer Khan picked up one.

Only Hamilton Masakadza (27) and Charles Coventry (37) made significant contributions to Zimbabwe’s now customary low first innings total.

In reply, India’s batsman made hay against Zimbabwe’s under-par bowlers, finishing the day on 195 for one, a first innings lead of 34 runs.