Lee handed T20 chance

Retired Test paceman included in initial Twenty20 party

Last updated: 26th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lee handed T20 chance

Lee: Twenty20 squad

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Brett Lee will have the chance to resume his international career after being named in Australia's preliminary squad for this year's World Twenty20.

Lee and fellow paceman Nathan Bracken, who has also struggled with injuries of late, have both been included in the initial 30-man squad.

15 names will be cut to leave a 15-man squad for the tournament itself, which takes place in the Caribbean in April, and Lee will be desperate to be there.

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 though, and will be training flat-out to prove his fitness.

New faces

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.

Tasmanian duo George Bailey and Xavier Doherty are in, along with Victorian John Hastings and young Queensland fast bowler Ben Cutting, who has enjoyed a breakout season in the domestic competition.

"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," said National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch.

"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

Preliminary 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.