Symonds in, Katich out

Andrew Symonds, the Queensland allrounder, has been included in the Australian squad for the second Test against West Indies, while Simon Katich has been omitted. The only other change in the 12-man line-up is the inclusion of Brad Hodge, the middle-order batsman from Victoria.

Symonds made his Test debut in March last year against Sri Lanka, but didn't enjoy much success in the two matches he played, scoring just 53 runs in four innings and taking a solitary wicket. But his inclusion in the squad was necessitated by the shoulder injury to Shane Watson in the first Test at Brisbane. Watson had been marked out as the one to fill the allrounder's slot, but his injury - which will keep him out for at least two months - offers an opportunity to Symonds, who has an excellent one-day record but has never got an extended run at the Test level. Symonds has also been in superb form this season, scoring 163 off 183 balls in Queensland's Pura Cup match against South Australia last week.

Commenting on his selection, Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, said: "Symonds has been in red-hot form with the bat, and his medium pace and offspin adds a lot of options to the bowling attack. He thoroughly deserves his opportunity at Test level again."

Katich missed the cut after scoring two runs in his last three innings and Hohns indicated that a return to first-class cricket would be the best way for him to regain touch. "Simon's form has not been what he expects of himself and we felt it was time to give someone else an opportunity," he said. "Brad Hodge has been a very high-scoring player for Victoria for many years and we believe he can do that at Test level. We hope Simon scores plenty of runs at domestic level to give himself every opportunity to get back into the team."

Hodge gets his reward for his consistent performances at the first-class level for Victoria - in 166 matches, he averages 46 with 37 centuries. He has toured India, New Zealand and England but has not played a Test or ODI. The second Tests starts at Hobart on November 17.

Australian squad
Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath, Stuart MacGill.