Hussey to lead strong PM XI

Former Test great Mike Hussey captains an experienced Australian Prime Minister's XI announced Monday for New Zealand's opening tour game this week.

Cricket Australia unveiled the 12-man squad for Friday's game and it includes batsmen Joe Burns, Adam Voges and Usman Khawaja, who were all selected for this month's postponed tour of Bangladesh, as well as Hussey's brother David.

"This is one of the strongest Prime Minister's XI sides we have selected in recent years," said national selector Rodney Marsh.

"We know New Zealand will be looking for immediate success in their first match on Australian soil since the ICC Cricket World Cup final" which Australia won convincingly.

"We have chosen a very strong line-up which will benefit from the experience of players such as the Hussey brothers, Adam Voges and Peter Siddle," added Marsh.

New Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was looking forward to a "fierce contest" against the Black Caps in the pink ball day-night match.

The first of three Tests against New Zealand starts at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 5.

Prime Minister's XI squad: Michael Hussey (captain), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, David Hussey, Ryan Carters, Ashton Agar, Peter Siddle, Jason Behrendorff, Mark Steketee, Ben Taylor (12th man).
Source: AFP