Ricky Ponting is the captain of the Australian One-Day and Test cricket teams. is the captain of the Australian One-Day and Test cricket teams. As of May 2006, he is the world's leading batsman in Test cricket according to the ICC rankings, and second in the rankings for One-day Internationals. He has made over 8,500 Test runs in 103 Tests at an average of over 58 with 31 centuries

Gilchrist is an outstanding, aggressive left-handed batsman and effective wicketkeeper, combining the two roles for the Australian national team. At Old Trafford in August 2005 he passed Alec Stewart's world record of 4,540 runs as a Test wicketkeeper. His ability to destroy the opposition in a very short period of time led him to be known as 'The Demolition Man'

Clarke is a right-handed batsman, highly-rated fieldsman and occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler. He made his first-class debut for New South Wales as an eighteen year old in the 1999-2000 Australian domestic season. He played a major part in Australia's 2-1 series victory, their first in India in over thirty years, contributing outstanding bowling figures of 6 for 9 in the final Test of the series

Michael is left-handed batsman, he has made a highly successful start to his international career. He plays his first-class cricket as vice-captain for the Western Warriors in Australia, and has played for several counties in England. His batting average in both forms of the game is over 70, and he currently tops the list of best averages ever in ODI cricket

Symonds is a talented powerful right-handed batsman. He can also bowl off spin or medium pace, making him a good all-rounder. He is an outstanding fielder as well, able to take catches well and with powerful throws and excellent reflexes; some may consider him almost the 'perfect cricket package'

Simon is an accomplished left-handed top order batsman, highly-rated fielder and occasional Chinaman bowler. He is well regarded for his timing and placement as a batsman, and draws comparison to former national player Michael Bevan. Katich made his debut for the Western Australia state team in the 1996-1997....More

Shane is an Australian cricketer, and captain of Hampshire. He is one of the greatest leg spin bowlers in history - many say the greatest. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century Shane is an Australian cricketer, and captain of Hampshire. He is one of the greatest leg spin bowlers in history - many say the greatest. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century

Gillespie is a right arm fast bowler. He made his Test debut against the West Indies in Sydney in 1996 and his one-day international debut against Sri Lanka at Colombo in the Singer World Series in 1996. He has taken 259 wickets in 71 Tests (an average of 26.08) making him Australia's fifth-highest wicket-taker.

Lee is an express fast bowler, and is capable of bowling at 160 kilometres per hour (km/h) or 99 miles per hour (mph). His fastest recorded delivery to date is at 160.8 km/h which he bowled against Craig Cumming of New Zealand. He is also an athletic fielder and aggressive lower-order batsman

Bracken is a left arm fast bowler who made his debut for his state in the 1998-1999 season after attending the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy the year before. He has established himself as one the top fast bowlers in Australian state cricket, and in December 2004 took the remarkable figures of 7 for 4 in a Pura Cup game

McGrath is one of the most highly regarded fast bowlers in cricketing history, and a leading contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket since the mid-1990s to 2006. He holds the world record for the highest number of Test wickets by a fast bowler

Hogg is primarily a left arm chinaman bowler, although he is a handy left-handed batsman as well and is an excellent fielder. In 1996, he joined the Australian team to tour India to replace Warne (who was injured). He made his Test debut against India in Delhi, taking 1/69 and making 1 and 4

Clark bowls right-arm fast medium deliveries. He is of an Indian background, made his state debut with the New South Wales Blues in the 1997-98 season. He had a run of injuries in 2003-04, but recovered to play first-class cricket for Middlesex in England in 2005

Macgill specialises in bowling leg spin. is widely perceived to be Australia's second best leg-spinner behind Shane Warne. He is best known for his huge leg-break and his useful googly. MacGill is credited with having the best strike rate of any modern leg-spin bowler, taking 152 wickets at 29.21 with a strike rate of around 55

Watson debuted for the Australian cricket team in 2002, playing his first one-day international against South Africa. While he has become a regular member of the one-day squad, Watson has played few Test Matches for Australia, having debuted against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2005

Phil Jaques is a left-handed opening batsman who has played first-class cricket for New South Wales. Making his One-Day International debut for Australia against South Africa, Jaques fell six runs short of his maiden century after being given out caught behind in a questionable decision, that innings breaking a 23-year-old record of the highest score on debut for Australia on debut

Mark Cosgrove is a left handed batsman and a part time bowler for South Australia Redbacks cricket team. In 2005 Mark won the Bradman Young Player. He was dropped in early 2005 because of claims that he was overweight, but is back in the South Australian Redbacks squad

Brad Haddin is a right-handed batsman who also specializes as a wicket-keeper. He has produced several memorable batting innings, including a top score of 133 against Victoria

Dan Cullen is a right-handed batsman and right-hand off break bowler. He plays his domestic cricket for South Australia and has signed to play for Somerset in the 2006 English cricket season. He made his Test debut on the Australian tour of Bangladesh in April 2006

Johnson was selected for the Australian one-day international team, making his debut against New Zealand in Christchurch, with chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns justifying the selection on the grounds of grooming players for the future