20 January 2008

Opening batsman Matthew Hayden has been recalled to Australia's Test squad at the expense of Chris Rogers, who replaced the left-hander in Perth as Hayden did not recover from a hamstring injury.

Rogers, who scored four and 15, drops out of the squad to play the fourth and final match in Adelaide with Australia looking to bounce back after a 72-run win for India in the third Test took the series score to 2-1 in the home side's favour.

Hayden will have to face a fitness test before the match but is expected to play.

"I think it is pretty likely he will play," his captain Ricky Ponting said.

"He has done a lot of work this week and I have spoken to him a lot - he has been running at about 80-90 per cent."

Hayden had not missed a Test since 2000 before his injury and scored centuries in each of the opening matches of the series in Melbourne and Sydney.

"He has had an extra week and half under his belt and I am pretty sure he is going to be up for Adelaide," Ponting added.

"You are going to miss guys of his calibre - he is one of the all-time great opening batsmen that have ever played the game.

"We missed him, and hopefully he can come back in in Adelaide and make some runs for us down there."

The only other likely change for Australia is likely to see left-arm spinner Brad Hogg replace fast bowler Shaun Tait, who failed to impress in Perth and who has yet to taste victory in a Test match.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait

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