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Cricket Australia (CA) has included Tim Paine in its Twenty20 squad. The young wicketkeeper will play eight ODIs and two Twenty20s to start from August 28 in England. Cricket Australia has also dropped Michel Hussey, Peter Siddle and Nathan Bracken from the team.
Andrew Hilditch, National selection panel chairman, said that the Twenty20 squad was picked keeping in mind the World Twenty20 in the West Indies in May.
"Ricky Ponting is having his workload managed and will return home to Australia after the fifth Test at The Oval and will miss the ODI against Scotland, the two Twenty20s and the start of the of the ODI series against England," Hilditch said.
"This is the last opportunity we have to give Ricky a break until next year, with the ICC Champions Trophy, ODIs against India and of course a full domestic summer against the West Indies and Pakistan to finish 2009. The plan for him to return to Australia before rejoining the team is considered the most appropriate course of action," he added.
Michael Clarke has been appointed as captain in the two Twenty20s and one ODI against Scotland.
"Notable omissions from the Twenty20 squad are Mike Hussey, Peter Siddle and Nathan Bracken. The selection panel is using the two matches against England to look at different make-ups to the squad and include players who we consider Twenty20 specialists in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 next year," he said.
Hilditch praised Hussey and Bracken skills in one-day and Twenty20 cricket but justified association’s decision saying the selection panel wanted to look at different players to improve Twenty20 performances.
"Their omissions do not mean we won't look to them for the World Twenty20. Peter Siddle is an exciting young bowler and we are sure that he will be a good Twenty20 bowler in time, but we are keen to look at different players as specialist Twenty20 players in these two matches. In this instance we have selected Dirk Nannes following his strong domestic performances in recent seasons to have a look at him in the Australian set up," he said.
Paine is the only new face in the squad and has performed outstandingly in the recent Australia A series .The selectors thought it was necessary to have a second wicketkeeper on tour.
Hilditch said,"Tim has been picked not only because he is an excellent wicketkeeper but because he has opened the batting in this form of the game with great success, which gives us good versatility if Brad Haddin misses any of the ODIs."
