Fatigue victim Nicholson gets perfect pick me up

``This is an excellent Christmas present -- probably the best I have ever had, `` Nicholson said after hearing the news here that he had been selected for the match starting in Melbourne on Saturday.

Nicholson, 24, who was born in Sydney, returned to cricket only three months ago after being forced to quit because of his condition.

He came to the fore in October when he captured 7-77 against England in the tourists' first major game. He was also in fine touch for Western Australia in their recent game against South Australia here when he captured five second innings wickets.

Nicholson, who has also benefitted from the injuries to the more experienced Paul Reiffel and Michael Kasprowicz, said he had largely overcome his illness thanks to a dramatic change in diet. He gave up red meat and other fatty foods and consumed large volumes of carrot juice and beetroot juice.

``I am still not 100 per cent right but certainly moving in the right direction,'' he said.

Nicholson learned of his selection in dramatic circumstances late on Wednesday. He was on a plane at Perth airport waiting to take off for Sydney, where he was planning to spend Christmas with his family.

An airline official gave him an urgent message asking him to leave the plane and fly to Melbourne to prepare for one of the biggest events on the Australian sporting calendar.

The Melbourne Test attracts Australia's biggest Test cricket crowds.