All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was ruled unfit for Saturday night's Tri-Nations Test against Australia, giving Daniel Braid a start in the Sydney clash.

In the team named on Tuesday, McCaw was bracketed with Braid, but coach Graham Henry admitted the star flanker was only a 50 per cent prospect of making an earlier than expected return from an ankle injury.

The All Blacks management said on Wednesday that McCaw had not recovered sufficiently from the high ankle sprain suffered in the second Test against England on June 21.

Braid, 27, will be playing only his fourth Test for the All Blacks and his first since October 2003.

Blindside flanker Rodney So'oialo will continue to captain the All Blacks in the absence of McCaw.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis; Jerome Kaino, Daniel Braid, Rodney So'oialo, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Conrad Smith.

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