Symonds left out of India tour

Australia have left first choice all-rounder Andrew Symonds out in the dark

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Andrew Symonds has been omitted of the 15-man Australia squad for the four-Test tour of India.

The 33-year-old was excluded after being sent home from Darwin during the series with Bangladesh for missing a team meeting when he opted to go fishing.

National selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said selectors, under the advice of Cricket Australia, were told Symonds could not be considered until he decided he was “fully committed to all of the things needed for a cricketer to be a member of the world's number one team.”

"Cricket Australia has told us that selectors will be advised once Andrew can be considered again for selection and we hope we can look forward to that advice in due course because, as we all know, a fit and fully-committed Andrew Symonds can be a world beater," Hilditch said in a statement.

His absence paved the way for injury-plagued all-rounder Shane Watson, who has not played a Test since November 2005, to return to the side, though Bushrangers pair Brad Hodge and David Hussey can consider themselves unlucky.

"Shane Watson fits well into our plan for the tour, someone who bats very well and also provides us extra flexibility with the bowling attack," Hilditch said.

Victorian pair Peter Siddle and Bryce McGain and unheralded Tasmania spinner Jason Krejza were also named in the squad.

Siddle, McGain and Krejza, along with New South Wales paceman Doug Bollinger, are the uncapped players in one of the most inexperienced Australian touring parties since the 1980s.

The squad is more evidence of the changing of the guard in the Australia team which started when Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer all pulled stumps on their Test careers following the 2006-07 Ashes triumph.

Bryce McGain could make his international debut at the age of 36 during Australia's tour

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Only four players in the touring party - Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich - have played Test cricket in India, whose conditions Australia have arguably found most difficult to adapt to.

Krejza and McGain beat Beau Casson, who made his Test debut earlier this year, in the race for the two spin berths.

McGain was rewarded for being the “standout leg-spinner at interstate level” last season, Hilditch said.

"His story is a great example of how those who perform at interstate level will be rewarded.”

Should McGain, 36, play a Test, he will become the oldest Test debutant since Bob Holland was picked as a 38-year-old in 1984.

Hilditch said finger-spinner Krejza was picked to give selectors more versatility in India's spin-friendly conditions, while Siddle, who impressed last summer with 33 scalps at 15.75 in five matches, and the under-rated Bollinger were both preferred to Queensland quick Ashley Noffke.

"The selectors felt right-arm finger spinners would perform well in India and Jason now has a chance to prove himself at the international level," Hilditch said.

"Peter Siddle is an exciting young fast bowler who has overcome some injury concerns and has continued to impress at interstate level.”