Australian selectors indicated Stuart MacGill would not be an automatic replacement for Shane Warne by delaying the announcement of the Test team to meet England in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

The team was to be named Thursday but it will now be announced on Sunday to enable selectors to watch the full round of Pura Cup matches which begin on Thursday.

The replacement for Warne, who dislocated his shoulder in Melbourne on Sunday, is the only selection issue for Australia, which has thrashed England in the opening three Tests.

MacGill, who will play for NSW against Victoria in Sydney, was expected to slot into the Australian team for his 18th Test and the leg-spinner remains the favourite to replace Warne.

But the selection delay will encourage the likes of West Australian Brad Hogg, Queenslander Nathan Hauritz and perhaps even Victorian all-rounder Cameron White.

Queensland plays Tasmania in Hobart while Western Australia meets South Australia in Adelaide.

MacGill, with 82 Test wickets, is still widely rated as Australia's second-best spinner but Hogg has pressed his claims as an outsider while Hauritz completed Australia's last Test tour abroad as the second slow man.

Hauritz is the only finger spinner among the leading contenders and he will bowl in front of national selector David Boon when the Bulls meet Tasmania.

Selectors have also delayed the announcement of the Australia A one-day team to play Sri Lanka on January 1 and 6 from Thursday until during the fourth Test.

The ACB released a statement explaining players in contention for the Australia A squad may also be considered for the final Ashes Test in Sydney from January 2-6.

The Australian one-day squad to meet Sri Lanka in Perth on Sunday remains scheduled for tomorrow.

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