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SYDNEY, Thursday (AFP) Captain Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee will be rested from Australia's tri-nation one-day match match against England Sunday to be fresh for the series final and next month's World Cup, officials said Thursday.

Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was expected to captain the team in the Adelaide match.

"All three players have had very little time off since September when the side travelled to Kenya," said Trevor Hohns, chairman of Australia's selectors.

"That's a lot of cricket, so this is an opportunity for them to 'freshen up' both physically and mentally ahead of the VB Series finals and World Cup," he said in a statement.

"As selectors we are conscious of the players' heavy workload, particularly those that were part of the Test squad, so this in an opportunity for Ricky, Matthew and Brett to have some time out."

Gilchrist was rested from Wednesday's one-day match against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, which the hosts won by four wickets with seven balls to spare, ensuring them a place in the series final.

Fast bowlers Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken, both drafted in as cover for Glenn McGrath and Andrew Bichel prior to Wednesday's match against Sri Lanka, will remain with the squad.

All four pacemen will travel to Adelaide after diagnostic scans revealed no further damage to the injury Bichel sustained to his right shoulder against England in Hobart on Saturday.

He is due to take part in full training ahead of Sunday's match, with his condition to be monitored by Australian team physiotherapist, Errol Alcott.

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