Tuesday, September 12 2006 12:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kuala Lumpur: Australia has backed New South Wales teammates Simon Katich and Phil Jaques to open the batting in their first DLF Cup tri-series opener here against the West Indies on Tuesday (12 Sep, 2006).

It means Matthew Hayden, back in the one-day squad after almost a year, misses out. Australia has chosen an experimental team from a squad of 18 as they look at all options ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in India next month.

While Glenn McGrath returns after sitting out the last nine months helping his wife fight breast cancer, the senior quartet of Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg and Brett Lee miss the game.

Tyros Mark Cosgrove, Mitchell Johnson and Daniel Cullen will start with Michael Clarke named as Ricky Ponting's vice-captain.

"It's been hard to map it all out to tell you the truth," says Ponting.

"We're looking to give equal game time to all the players here, some guys will get two games, some three games, so it's just the way we've worked it out."

He adds that all his seamers would be used in brief spells to ensure the Malaysian heat did not hit them too hard.

"We might have to (bowl short spells), it might be the same for all our bowlers, these sorts of conditions after the long break we've had, it's going to be hard for anyone, doesn't matter how much work you've done in the off-season," he says.

The tri-series also involves India and runs from September 12-24.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt) Shane Watson, Glenn McGrath, Simon Katich, Mitchell Johnson, Phil Jaques, Brad Haddin, Dan Cullen, Mark Cosgrove, Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken (12th man