Bracken backs rotation policy

Nathan Bracken © Getty Images

Nathan Bracken believes Australia's rotation policy can only benefit the national team even if the players find it hard to accept.

Australia's 'player workload management' strategy, as it is known inside Cricket Australia headquarters, once again came to the fore when it was revealed strike bowler Brett Lee would be rested following Australia's one-day match against Sri Lanka in Sydney on Friday.

Left-arm seamer Bracken is now a fixture in Australia's one-day side and insisted it was important players were rested in order to avoid injury.

"Nobody enjoys missing a game; everyone wants to play every game for their country," he said.

"Nobody puts their hand up and says 'I'm a bit tired, I want a rest' - they all want to go - but you've got to understand the situation."

Australia can ill afford to lose Lee for a prolonged period as the 31-year-old has assumed the mantle of the side’s most experienced bowler.

With Shaun Tait sidelined with physical and emotional stress, Lee's absence will leave Australia's one-day attack with a decidedly less intimidating feel about it.

"Guys who have been through the Test series and have played a lot of cricket - or could be a little stiff and sore - it's coming down to saying 'if you miss this game it means you're going to play the next 10 games'," Bracken added.

"If you played today you might miss the next 10 games through injury."

Opener Matthew Hayden and paceman Stuart Clark will return to Australia's one-day squad for Friday's match after missing Sunday's tournament opener in Brisbane, which was abandoned due to rain.