MELBOURNE (Reuters)
Australia have named young allrounder Shane Watson and recalled batsman Darren Lehmann to their 15-man squad for next month's three-Test tour of South Africa.

Stuart MacGill was also included after he combined with fellow legspinner Shane Warne to take 13 wickets in Australia's 10-wicket win over South Africa in the third Test at Sydney earlier this month. Middle-order batsman Simon Katich, who made his Test debut on the 2001 Ashes tour, was overlooked.

Steve Waugh's team thrashed Shaun Pollock's Proteas 3-0 in the recent three-Test series in Australia to retain their place atop the world rankings. But, under the ICC's rankings system, the South Africans can replace Australia as the No. 1 side if they draw the forthcoming series on home soil.

Watson, 20, has taken 22 wickets at 23.36 for Tasmania in the Pura Cup this season, with best figures of 6 for 32. He has also scored 292 runs at 29.20 with a highest score of 58 not out.

"Shane is an exciting player who has demonstrated maturity beyond his years while playing for Tasmania," saud Trevor Hohns, Australia's chairman of selectors. "He offers us a little bit of variety in the pace-bowling department, and some depth in our batting line-up. He is a touch raw-boned, but given the chance to be part of this squad, he will return an improved player."

Lehmann, the South Australia captain, has not played a Test since the fifth match of the 1998-99 Ashes series. He has an average of 28.50 from five Tests with two half-centuries. He also hit the winning runs for Australia in the 1999 World Cup final against Pakistan at Lord's.

Lehmann, 32 next month, is the leading runscorer in Australian domestic cricket this season, with 772 runs in seven first-class games at an average of 64.33. "Since that time [1998-99] he has dominated domestic cricket," said Hohns, "and fully deserves his chance to represent Australia at Test level again."

Lehmann said he had tried not to get his hopes up. "You hope for the one-day spot and see what happens from there, but to get a Test tour is very gratifying," he was quoted as saying on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website.

Australia's Test squad leave for South Africa on February 13. The first Test at Johannesburg starts on February 22. The squad for the seven-match one-day series will be announced at a later date.

James Sutherland, the Australian Cricket Board's chief executive, has announced that team selection would no longer be the sole responsibility of the captain, vice-captain and coach on tour. Sutherland said at least one selector would travel with touring parties from now on. Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said the move would free senior players to concentrate on cricket rather than selection matters.

Australia squad Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist (vice-capt), Andrew Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Stuart MacGill, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Mark Waugh.

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