Former Australian opening batsman Michael Slater was today considered fit enough for selection in the NSW cricket team for the Blues' Pura Cup cricket match against South Australia starting in Adelaide next Wednesday.

Slater missed the Blues ING Cup match against Victoria last weekend with an ankle injury and was also unavailable for tomorrow's one-day clash with the Redbacks in Coffs Harbour.

The selectors made three changes to the team which played against Western Australia just before Christmas.

Spinner Stuart MacGill, who will lead the side in the absence of the injured Shane Lee, replaced Anthony Clark, who was relegated to twelfth man.

Batsmen Brett van Deinsen and Corey Richards were recalled in place of youngster Aaron O'Brien and the unavailable Michael Bevan.

Both Richards, who suffered from a bout of deep vein thrombosis during the off-season and van Deinsen, played in the Blues' last four-day game against South Africa.

The NSW team is: Stuart MacGill (capt), Michael Slater, Greg Mail, Brett van Deinsen, Michael Clarke, Corey Richards, Mark Higgs, Brad Haddin, Don Nash, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Anthony Clark (twelfth man).

© 2002 AAP