Lee returns to Aussie fold

Brett Lee © Getty Images

Australia have announced their 15-man squad for the World Twenty20, which gets under way in South Africa in September.

Brett Lee returns to the national team in place of the retired Glenn McGrath after missing the World Cup earlier this year because of an ankle injury.

"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," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.

Lee is the only change to the squad that lifted the World Cup trophy in the Caribbean, and Hilditch believes there was no reason to change a winning formula.

"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," he added.

"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."

Brad Haddin misses out on the tour of India © Getty Images

The selectors also announced a 14-man squad to tour India in October, with Brad Haddin the only omission from the World Twenty20 group.

The Australia A squad to tour Pakistan has also been named and will display some of the country’s best young talent as well as a those players hoping to break into the Test team.

Adam Voges will captain the side while Phil Jacques will also be looking to impress 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."

World Twenty20 squad: Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, 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.                                                                        
Squad to tour India: 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 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.