Lee, Tait recalled for first ODI against England
By IANSTuesday, January 11, 2011
MELBOURNE - Brett Lee and Shaun Tait have been included in the 14-man Australian squad for their Commonwealth Bank Series One-day Internationals (ODI) against England.
Spinner Nathan Hauritz and David Hussey, too, have been called up. Hauritz was overlooked for the entire Ashes series which Australia lost 3-1.
Lee and Hussey have not played a 50-over international since 2009, while Tait last turned out for Australia in July.
Michael Clarke will lead the side in the absence of Ricky Ponting. Cameron White will be the vice-captain. Cameron White will be leading Australia in the two Twenty20 matches this week.
“We’ve selected a very strong squad of 14 for the first ODI of what promises to be a really fiercely contested series between the two sides,” chairman of the national selection panel Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.
The squad is selected for one game for the selectors to look at certain players before announcing the World Cup squad of fifteen Jan 19.
“Our One-day form has been pretty good over the last 12 months and as we build to a fourth successive title at the World Cup, these matches against England will not only provide us with a stern challenge but allow players to make cases for inclusion in that World Cup squad,” Hilditch said.
“We have given David Hussey the opportunity to push for inclusion in the World Cup squad as we think he will be well suited for the sub-continent conditions which will be faced in the World Cup,” he said.
“We have some explosive fast bowling with Shaun Tait, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle all selected in this squad.”
“Shaun and Brett will, therefore, have an opportunity to impress in this form of the game before World Cup squad selection,” Hilditch noted.
“We’ve included Nathan Hauritz, who has been a key part of our One-day side for some time now and Xavier Doherty in this squad, who played well against Sri Lanka at the start of the summer. This gives us a chance to look at both of them prior to the World Cup.”
Australia squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Cameron White (vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin (wicket-keeper), Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson.
