Australia win toss, bat against Kenya

BANGALORE: Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first against Kenya in their Group A day-night match of the World Cup here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadiumon Sunday.

Michael Hussey, recovered from a hamstring problem and called into the Australia squad as a replacement for injured fast bowler Doug Bollinger, was selected for his first match of this tournament.

The experienced left-handed batsman replaced younger brother David in the Australia line-up.

Victory for Australia, bidding for a fourth straight title and fifth in all, would see Ricky Ponting's men into the quarter-finals and extend the champions' unbeaten streak at the World Cup to 33 games, a sequence dating back to 1999.

Kenya, by contrast, have lost all four of their group matches at this tournament to date, including a five-wicket defeat by fellow non-Test nation Canada last time out.

This is effectively Australia's first match for more than two weeks after last weekend's clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka ended as a no-result washout.

Australia: Brad Haddin (wk), Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Shaun Tait

Kenya: Maurice Ouma (wk), Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, David Obuya, Tanmay Mishra, Thomas Odoyo, Rakep Patel, Jimmy Kamande captain), Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, James Ngoche

Umpires: Asad Rauf (PAK) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG), TV umpire: Billy Bowden (NZ)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)