Andrew Symonds has returned to the Australian set-up after being selected for an exhibition Twenty20 match.
Australia end all-rounder's international banishment
Andrew Symonds has been recalled to the Australian set-up after being selected for an exhibition Twenty20 match on Friday.
The Queensland all-rounder has been out of the international reckoning since August as punishment for skipping a team meeting to go fishing during the one-day series with Bangladesh.
Symonds missed out on the tour of India, where Australia have been struggling in his absence, with Cricket Australia chiefs keen for him to sort out his personal issues.
Having now worked on his problems, Symonds will pull on an Australian shirt again in Brisbane on Friday in a Twenty20 exhibition match against an All Star team.
Asked if this was to be his last chance, Symonds said: "I would have thought so - if I make another mistake, it's not going to be a pretty ending and I realise that.
"I've got to be careful, but at the same time I've still got to be the player and person (who) plays my best cricket."
Satisfied
CA chief executive James Sutherland said he was satisfied that Symonds has worked on his problems enough to earn a return to the national side.
"I have been in regular contact with Andrew over the last month or so," Sutherland said.
"He has made significant progress during his enforced lay off and we are happy that he is now available to be selected for Australia again.
"When he is up and firing, he is one of the very best players in the world and I'm delighted that he will play in the All-Star Twenty20 match and wish him well."
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said he was advised by CA that Symonds could now be considered for full selection once again.
"CA advised that Andrew had completed the welfare process he has been undertaking over recent times and it was with great pleasure that we were able to select him for this game," Hilditch said.
Tait return
Another man returning to the fold is express paceman Shaun Tait, who has not played since January when he stepped back from international cricket citing stress and exhaustion.
"Shaun is a dynamic bowler in all forms of the game and given his outstanding performances in interstate one-day cricket, we feel he is ideally suited to the Twenty20 format," Hilditch said.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist will lead an All-Star side that includes former opener Justin Langer, while Australia plan to rest skipper Ricky Ponting and bowlers Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark after the tough trip to India.
Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), Michael Hussey, Brett Geeves, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Cameron White
ACA All Stars: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Dan Cullen, Michael Dighton, Brendan Drew, Ryan Harris, Brad Hodge, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Dan Marsh, Steve Magoffin, Ashley Noffke, Rob Quiney
