Symonds dropped from Australia team to face Bangladesh

SYDNEY, Apr 8 (Reuters) All-rounder Andrew Symonds has been dropped from the Australian team to play Bangladesh in the first test starting in Dhaka tomorrow.

Symonds lost his place after selectors opted to go with an additional specialist bowler in a reshuffled team.

Paceman Jason Gillespie, middle-order batsman Michael Clarke and leg spinner Stuart MacGill were all recalled while Symonds was demoted to 12th man.

''We've gone with five bowlers rather than our usual four, having taken into account the workload on the three bowlers that were heavily used in the South African series and the expected conditions here,'' Australia captain Ricky Ponting said in a statement released today.

''Michael Clarke gets another opportunity at test level, having been the twelfth man in South Africa. We believe he's progressed in the last twelve months.

''Stuart McGill has been brought back to exploit the conditions here in Bangladesh, which are likely to favour spin bowling and Jason Gillespie has been rewarded after a summer's hard work in domestic cricket.

''He has been an outstanding performer in the past for Australia and will be looking forward to this test match.'' Opening batsman Justin Langer and fast bowler Michael Kasprowciz were both ruled out of the tour because of injuries suffered on Australia's recent visit to South Africa.

Mike Hussey is expected to replace Langer at the top of the order with Clarke, who was dropped from the test side in November, filling Hussey's vacant middle-order place.

Gillespie was selected to play his first match since being dumped during last season's Ashes series loss in England while MacGill was given the nod ahead of Symonds after the selectors opted to go for an extra specialist bowler.

Australia - Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Andrew Symonds (12th man).

Reuters PDS BD1621