Australia include Lee and Bracken

Nathan Bracken and Brett Lee are aiming to make the 15-man squad, set to be captained by Michael Clarke

Injury-plagued bowlers Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken have been offered the chance to resurrect their international careers after being named in a preliminary Australia squad for this year's World Twenty20.

Lee announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday after being sidelined since October with a serious elbow injury, but he remained hopeful of playing a role for Australia in the shorter forms of the game.

The 33-year-old still has some work to do before heading to the Caribbean for the tournament in April, however, as the preliminary squad will be halved closer to the event.

Fellow New South Wales bowler Bracken has also been included, despite missing most of the summer through injury, while the preliminary squad contains four new names in Tasmania duo George Bailey and Xavier Doherty, along with Victoria's John Hastings and young Queensland fast bowler Ben Cutting, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season in Australia's domestic competition.

National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said: "The Australian Twenty20 team has played well in recent times with a solid win against reigning champions Pakistan and also against the West Indies at home this summer.

“The squad also has two matches against New Zealand and the NSP will be watching performances closely.

"We consider the squad to contain a good blend of youth and experience with several players who have excelled in Twenty20 cricket both internationally and domestically this year.

"From this 30 we hope to pick a final World Twenty20 squad that if it plays to its ability will be a very exciting, entertaining and extremely competitive team in the Caribbean."

Australia squad: George Bailey, Travis Birt, Doug Bollinger, Nathan Bracken, Daniel Christian, Michael Clarke, Ben Cutting, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, Moises Henriques, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Andrew McDonald, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Dirk Nannes, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.