Australia choose to bat against the Netherlands

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Mar 18 (Reuters) Australia won the toss and elected to bat against the Netherlands in their World Cup Group A match today.

Australia retained the team who defeated Scotland by 203 runs on Wednesday.

Pace bowler Mark Jonkman and spinner Adeel Raja replaced Billy Stelling, who has injured his back, and Eric Szwarczynski in the Dutch team who lost by 221 runs to South Africa on Friday.

Teams: Australia - Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath.

Netherlands - Bas Zuiderent, Darron Reekers, Alexei Kervezee, Ryan ten Doeschate, Daan van Bunge, Tim de Leede, Peter Borren, Luuk van Troost (captain), Mark Jonkman, Jeroen Smits, Adeel Raja.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (Jamaica) and Tony Hill (New Zealand).

REUTERS DH KP1925