Australian squad chosen for one-day international series

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive officer James Sutherland today announced that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen the Australian squad for its upcoming one-day international series.

These series include the still-to-be confirmed matches against Pakistan in Kenya and the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy, to be played in Sri Lanka from 12-29 September.

The squad is:

Selection sees young Queensland off-spinner Nathan Hauritz added to the 13 players that took part in TOWER Super Challenge II, the June series of one-day internationals between Australia and Pakistan.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said the 14-man squad, the same group that took part in the one-day international component of the Travelex Tour of South Africa, should provide Australia with sufficient depth for both tournaments.

"The Australian squad has imminent opportunities to try to gel into a unit capable of defending Australia's champion status at next year's World Cup," Hohns said.

"The Champions Trophy will be the only chance we have to see all teams in action prior to the World Cup, and we believe the players chosen for this tournament will be critical towards that World Cup push."

Hohns said the decision to re-call Hauritz resulted from the capacity to increase the size of the squad.

"The only reason Nathan was not selected for TOWER Super Challenge II was that it was a very short series, and only one spin bowler was necessary," Hohns said.

"We said at the time of selecting that squad, that Nathan has a bright future at the international level and was certainly in the mix for a re-call later in the year.

"He has been rewarded for his encouraging display in South Africa."

The ICC Champions Trophy begins on 12 September, when home side Sri Lanka takes on Pakistan.

Broken into four three-team pools, each of the 12 competing nations will play two games in the opening round of the tournament.

Australia opens its campaign against reigning champion New Zealand on 15 September in a day match at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Australia then plays the other team in its pool, Bangladesh, at the same venue on 19 September.

The tournament final, a day-night fixture, is scheduled for 29 September at Premadasa Stadium.

Australia failed to progress past the opening round of the tournament in 2000, when it was defeated by India at the Nairobi Gymkhana Ground in Kenya.

The ACB earlier today confirmed its availability for the Kenyan one-day international series, with participation subject to its pre-tour investigation of the venue.