Melbourne, Dec.30 (ANI): Australian cricket selectors have called up New South Wales pacer Doug Bollinger and Victorian all-rounder Andrew McDonald into the squad of 13 for the final match of the three-Test series with South Africa which starts at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Bollinger and McDonald have replaced the injured Brett Lee (foot) and all-rounder Shane Watson who was expected to come in for Andrew Symonds until it was revealed he has stress fractures of the back.
According to news.com.au, embattled Australian opener Matthew Hayden has kept his place for the final Test of the Australian summer.
There was much speculation that Hayden would be dropped to blood a new opener before the tour of South Africa, but the loss of so much experience through injury may have saved him.
McDonald, who has had a good year for Victoria is a surprise inclusion and an indication the selectors are worried about Symonds.
Symonds has a knee injury and cannot bowl medium pace, but is able to deliver off-spin.
McDonald, 27, has played 42 shield games, has a batting average of 39 and taken 93 wickets at 20.
He has had a good summer for Victoria, scoring four 50s and averaging 46 with the bat. McDonald has taken 15 wickets at 24 with his medium pace deliveries.
Bollinger, who opens the bowling for NSW, took six in the last match against South Australia to bowl his side to victory and toured India and the West Indies with the Test team during the year, although he did not play a game.
Squad: M Hayden, S Katich, R Ponting (c), M Hussey, M Clarke, A Symonds, B Haddin, D Bollinger, M Johnson, A McDonald, N Hauritz, B Hilfenhaus, P Siddle. (ANI)