Twenty20 call for Henriques

Moises Henriques bowls to Peter Fulton in New Zealand's tour match against a Prime Minister's XI

New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques is in line for his international debut after being named in Australia's squad for Sunday's Twenty20 clash with New Zealand.

The 22-year-old, born in Portugal, helped the Blues to last month's KFC Twenty20 Big Bash title with back-to-back victories over three-time champions the Victorian Bushrangers.

He is named in the squad with a view to June's ICC World Twenty20 tournament in England. Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey will be rested.

"The national selection panel (NSP) has again picked a squad for this KFC Twenty20 against New Zealand with a view to continuing the development of our younger players and in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 to be played in England during June this year," said Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.

"This also provides a wonderful opportunity for Moises Henriques. The panel regards Moises as an exciting young player with the all-round ability to play a role in the World Twenty20.

"We recently included him in the Prime Minister's XI match against New Zealand where he played exceptionally well and we are hoping this opportunity will help him to continue his development."

Hilditch confirmed that Hussey and Ponting, who had originally been left out of the squad for last Sunday's Commonwealth Bank Series clash with the Black Caps before being rushed back with the team down 2-0 will sit out ahead of the upcoming tour of South Africa.

"Given the high workload of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey since the Indian Test series in October we have decided, in consultation with these players, it is appropriate they miss this game," he added.

"With a hectic and competitive South African campaign departing the day after this match, we felt this option was best in the interest of the players’ workload management."

Michael Clarke will lead the team in Ponting's absence, with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin named as his deputy, while exciting opener David Warner also returns after being dropped from the one-day squad at the weekend.

"While David was disappointed to be dropped from the one-day squad, we regard him as an exciting young player who definitely remains in our thoughts for the World Twenty20."

Twenty20 squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Moises Henriques, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, David Warner, Cameron White.