Green light for Thurston
May 09, 2008

AUSTRALIA half-back Johnathan Thurston passed a fitness test on his injured ankle this morning and will play in the Centenary Test against New Zealand at the SCG.

A team spokesman said Thurston had performed "better than expected" when he ran in front of team medical staff.

“Unless it swells up dramatically this afternoon he should be right to take his place,” the spokesman said.

Melbourne half-back Cooper Cronk remains on standby for Thurston, who rolled his ankle at training on Thursday and partially tore ligaments.

The news is a major boost for the Kangaroos, who lost skipper and Thurston's halves partner Darren Lockyer on Sunday.

Australia would have gone into the Test without a full training session with Cronk at No.7 after he only arrived in camp on Thursday night.