Tasmania favour Butterworth over McNees

Tasmania, who won the ING Cup on Sunday, have called in Luke Butterworth for the Pura Cup match against Victoria at the MCG starting on Thursday. Butterworth, the allrounder who took one wicket in the Tigers' seven-wicket victory over Queensland, has replaced Darren McNees.

Adam Crosthwaite, the wicketkeeper, will make his first-class debut in place of Peter Roach for Victoria. Crosthwaite has been a regular in the one-day side this season and his impressive performances have pushed him ahead of the incumbent Roach, who was dropped after the win over South Australia.

Crosthwaite, 20, has played 11 limited-overs matches for Victoria and was a member of the Australia under-19 team in the 2003 Youth World Cup in Bangladesh. He is also a graduate of the Victorian Institute of Sport, and will become the 802nd player to represent Victoria at first-class level.

The Bushrangers are fourth on the Pura Cup ladder, ten points behind New South Wales and Queensland, who are level on 28 points, and need an outright victory to pressure their rivals with three matches remaining. Tasmania are second last on eight points.

Victoria Cameron White (capt), Jason Arnberger, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Matthew Elliott, Ian Harvey, Shane Harwood, Brad Hodge, Nick Jewell, Michael Lewis, Jonathan Moss, Graeme Rummans, Shane Warne.

Tasmania Daniel Marsh (capt), Michael Di Venuto, Michael Bevan, George Bailey, Travis Birt, Luke Butterworth, Sean Clingeleffer (wk), David Dawson, Xavier Doherty, Brett Geeves, Adam Griffith, Damien Wright.