 Cricket Australia has announced its squad for the ICC Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in September. AusItalian Luke Ronchi from Western Australia has been included.
The National Selection Panel (NSP) has decided to stick with a tried and true combination, the addition of a fit Brett Lee the only change to the squad that won the One Day International World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year.
NSP chairman Andrew Hilditch believes the players that brought home Australia's third consecutive World Cup were the obvious choice for another tilt at glory.
"We looked at the performances of some of the top domestic Twenty20 players, but ultimately we felt that the World Cup winning side would adapt well and deserved the opportunity to prove that they can perform to the highest standards in both shorter forms of the game," Hilditch said.
 "The reality is that Australia has not played a lot of international Twenty20 cricket, but we see no reason to doubt that, being an Australian side, they will be able to adapt quickly. In recent times when Australia has played international Twenty20 cricket the team has performed very well."
Brett Lee will replace retired champion Glen McGrath in the squad after missing Australia's World Cup campaign earlier this year with an injured ankle.
"It's fantastic to have Brett Lee back, fully fit and resuming his spot in the Australian side. He's back to training and raring to go," Hilditch added.
The NSP also announced a 14-man squad to tour India in October, with Brad Haddin the only omission from the Twenty20 World Championship group.
The Australia A squad to tour Pakistan has also been announced and will display some of the best young talent the country has to offer as well as a few players hopeful of cracking the Test team sooner rather than later.
West Australian Adam Voges will captain the side with Victoria's Cameron White vice captain. Phil Jacques will also be looking to impress after an ordinary domestic season with an opening spot in the Test side up for grabs in the wake of Justin Langer's retirement.
"As Australian selectors, one of the very important tasks is the selection of the Australia A team, which we regard as our second best team, albeit with a view to the future of Australian cricket," Hilditch said.
"This side is no exception. It boasts some of our finest young batsmen and upcoming young quicks but we've taken the opportunity to take three spinners and also look at prominent all-rounders Andrew McDonald and James Hopes.
But it's not just the youngsters that will get to flaunt their wares in the hope of a national call-up. Test spinner Stuart MacGill will also get his chance.
"We are really excited to offer Stuart MacGill the opportunity to get experience in Pakistan and to have him work along side two young spinners on an important development tour for them. Stuart will join the tour to take part in the four-day games."
ICC Twenty20 World Championship squad:
Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist (vc), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait , Shane Watson.
Travelex Tour of India squad:
Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist (vc), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait , Shane Watson.
Australia A Travelex tour of Pakistan squad:
Adam Voges (c), Cameron White (vc), Cullen Bailey, Doug Bollinger, Dan Cullen, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Phil Jaques, Andrew McDonald, Stuart MacGill,
Ashley Noffke, Chris Rogers, Luke Ronchi. Sportal |
