Cricket: Taylor's Canberra date with England

MARK TAYLOR, the Australian captain, will lead the Prime Minister's XI against England in their one-day tour match at Canberra's Manuka Oval on 17 December.

Taylor was yesterday chosen to captain the XI, which includes several Australian players with hopes of selection for the World Cup, in the traditional match against the tourists. It will be played two days after the scheduled finish of the third Test in Adelaide.

Ryan Campbell, the flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman who hammered a brilliant 146 off 147 balls against England for Western Australia last month, is included, alongside his state colleagues Simon Katich and Matt Nicholson.

The Gloucestershire all-rounder, Andrew Symonds, who played his first one-day international for Australia in Pakistan last month, and Mark Harrity, the South Australia left-arm pace bowler, are also included in the line- up.

PRIME MINISTER'S XI (v England, Canberra, 17 December): M A Taylor (NSW, capt), R J Campbell (WA), B N Creevey (Queensland), L Hensen (ACT), M A Harrity (SA), B J Hodge (Victoria), S M Katich (WA), D J Marsh (Tasmania), M Nicholson (WA), C J Richards (NSW), A Symonds (Queensland).