Great Britain name Davis Cup team for Australia semi-final

Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith has left his options open for next week's semi-final against Australia by naming a five-man squad.

Smith faces a dilemma over whether to select the out-of-form James Ward in his final four-man team for the Glasgow tie or not.

Ward has lost his last nine matches but has been a key member of the side in the past, notably posting a vital win over the USA's John Isner when Great Britain last played at the Emirates Arena in this year's first round in March.

His place appears to be under threat from youngster Kyle Edmund, who recently cracked the world's top 100 for the first time. Edmund is included in the five-man squad alongside the four players who helped Great Britain to victory over France in the quarter-finals - Andy Murray, Ward, Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot.

It may or may not be significant, but the International Tennis Federation, who run the Davis Cup, had Edmund in the four-man team with Ward as the reserve.

Smith, who must finalise his team 24 hours before the tie gets under way, said: "In James Ward we have a player who has shown on more than one occasion he can deliver the upsets required in this tournament, and, in Kyle Edmund, a fantastic young talent who has broken into 100 for the first time recently.

"We will also be travelling to Glasgow with some flexibility for the doubles rubber. Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot are both having a great US Open this year (at the time of Smith's announcement both were into the quarter-finals with different partners).

"Jamie and Andy had great success against a very strong French pairing in July, while Dom and Jamie showed what they could do against the greatest doubles team of all time in the Bryan brothers (Bob and Mike) back in March, narrowly losing the fifth set.

"I know that all of the team will feel a great sense of pride when they pull on their GB shirts and whoever walks out on the court in Glasgow will give everything."

Andy Murray, who will have longer to prepare for the tie than expected having suffered a fourth-round exit at the US Open, added: "It's always exciting playing in the Davis Cup in front of a home crowd and I love being part of a team and representing my country. Australia are a very experienced nation with a proven track record, and while it will be tough, we'll go into the semi-final with the belief that we can do it.

"The crowd will certainly play a part, we have had amazing support in our last two home ties, and we are all looking forward to this one."

Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios has been dropped from Australia's squad for the semi-final showdown which takes place from September 18-20 and is already a sell-out.

Australia's highest ranked singles player Bernard Tomic will replace Kyrgios in the four-man team, with teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis and doubles pairing Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth completing the line-up.

Kyrgios has endured a difficult few months, beginning at Wimbledon where he was sanctioned for audible obscenities during his fourth-round to defeat to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

The 20-year-old found himself embroiled in more controversy last month after his infamous sledging of Stan Wawrinka at the Montreal Masters led to him being punished by the ATP for aggravated behaviour.

Australia team captain Wally Masur said Kyrgios' omission from the team was agreed mutually in order for the fiery youngster to focus on his overall development.  

He said: "After some good healthy discussion with Nick and his team, we have agreed on a plan to help him develop all aspects of his game and ensure a long and successful future in the sport," Masur said.

"Next week's tie has come a bit too soon for him and is not in that plan."

Masur added: "With Andy Murray leading an excellent squad who have shown they love playing for their country, Great Britain obviously go in as favourites on their home court."

The winners will face either Argentina at home or Belgium away in November's final.

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