Evans Gets Singles Nod against Australia

Dan Evans was on Thursday given a surprise singles berth for Great Britain's Davis Cup semi-final against Australia in Glasgow this weekend.

Evans, the world number 300, has been selected alongside world number three Andy Murray and ahead of James Ward and Kyle Edmund, who recently sustained an ankle injury after falling in training.

Discussing the phone-call during which captain Leon Smith told him he had been called up, Evans, 25, told a press conference: "Not a lot was said. He didn't even say Kyle had fallen. He just said someone was injured.

"He asked me to come to be on standby and I said yes. It's a good opportunity to be around all the guys again. I haven't been in this environment for a while.

"I just came up for a practice, really, and things worked out a bit different."

Doubles specialists Jamie Murray, brother of Andy, and Dom Inglot make up the team.

Andy Murray will launch the British team's bid to reach a first final since 1978 against Thanasi Kokkinakis on Friday, before Evans tackles Bernard Tomic.

"Obviously I've practised with him a lot and spent a lot of time watching him as well as speaking to him, so for one of the younger guys I know his game better than most," said Andy Murray of 19-year-old Kokkinakis.

"We practised together for the French Open, the U.S. Open and we played doubles together in Miami. He is quite an explosive player, but at the same time it's a tough match-up for him as well."

Kokkinakis said: "It should be a great challenge for me. He's a great player and playing in his home ground in Glasgow will be a huge opportunity for me."

Jamie Murray and Inglot are scheduled to take on Lleyton Hewitt and Samuel Groth on Saturday, although line-ups for the doubles match do not have to be finalised until an hour before play.

Andy Murray will also be up first on Sunday when he plays Tomic, with Evans and Kokkinakis facing off in the final rubber.

Australia captain Wally Masur said Smith's decision to pick Evans -- who beat Tomic at the 2013 U.S. Open but has not played a top-100 opponent in 12 months -- was "interesting".

He added: "You make decisions based on what you think is right at the time and then you get judged on hindsight.

"If Leon gets it right, he'll be a genius. If he doesn't, there will be people ready to stick it to them."

Draw

Playing Friday:

Singles

Andy Murray (GBR) v Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)

Dan Evans (GBR) v Bernard Tomic (AUS)

Playing Saturday:

Doubles

Dominic Inglot/Jamie Murray (GBR) v Sam Groth/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Playing Sunday:

Singles

Andy Murray (GBR) v Bernard Tomic (AUS)

Dan Evans (GBR) v Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)