Perth, Dec. 16 : Australia have included off-spinner Jason Krejza in their side and named pace-bowling all-rounder Shane Watson as 12th man for Wednesday''s first Test against South Africa at the WACA.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he expected the pitch to have some early life on day one for the quick bowlers but the home team would need some variety in their attack as the match wore on.

Dubai, Dec. 16 : ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has sent a message of congratulation and gratitude to the India and England teams after a hard-fought and exciting Test match in Chennai, played in trying circumstances.

"I have been in touch with both the BCCI and ECB since the end of the match to thank them for what was a great advertisement for cricket," an ICC press release quoted Lorgat, as saying.

Perth, Dec. 16 : South Africa's new "White Lightning", Dale Steyn, has vowed to work on the Australian batters with raw pace.

Steyn and Australia rival Brett Lee will engage in their own pace showdown in the captivating battle which will set the tone for the grudge series, reports the Courier Mail.

Both men are known to send the speed gun soaring past the 150km/h mark.

Steyn, who has taken 60 Test wickets at 19.41 in 2008, has promised to leave nothing on the tarmac.

Perth, Dec. 16 : Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that even Brett Lee will be expected to take his turn pushing into Perth''s famous sea breeze.

Ponting also confirmed that Peter Siddle will play the first Test against South Africa, beginning on Thursday, replacing Stuart Clark, who is out with tennis elbow.

Clark had surgery in Sydney on Monday afternoon to remove bone spurs on his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the international summer.

"It''s a big blow for Stuart and the team," Ponting said.

London, Dec. 16 : When batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar played the paddle shot to fine-leg to register India's victory against England and his 41st Test century in the first Test in Chennai on Monday, that victory stroke made hair on the neck stand up, claims former England fast bowler Angus Fraser.

In article for The Independent, Fraser says that it is not every day that you hear a cricket team chase down the highest total on home soil, and for Tendulkar to be there at the end and ensure that it happened for India, was not only miraculous, but heartwarming for a connoisseur of the game.