Shoaib left out of World XI

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was on Thursday left out of the World XI twelve for the Super Test against Australia starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

World skipper Graeme Smith said Shoaib, who was a big disappointment in last week's 3-0 loss to Australia in the one-day Super Series in Melbourne, had been omitted from the 12.

Smith will finalise his starting team before the start of play in the one-off six-day Test.

The Australian team will name its team on match morning with captain Ricky Ponting to decide whether to play three seamers or two leg-spinners, Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill.

Ponting, who has had only one look at the SCG pitch this week, said he wanted to have a more detailed inspection of the Test pitch on Thursday before deciding with selectors about the possible makeup of his team.

Showers are forecast throughout all six scheduled days of the one-off Test.