Australia's squad for the Twenty20 World Cup is announced, with veterans, a raw youngster and an injured Test squad member featuring in a fascinating group.
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The 15-player ICC World Twenty20 squad is:
George Bailey (Capt, Hobart Hurricanes)
Dan Christian (Brisbane Heat)
Nathan Coulter-Nile (Perth Scorchers)
James Faulkner (Melbourne Stars)
Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades)
Brad Haddin (Sydney Sixers)
Brad Hodge (Melbourne Stars)
Brad Hogg (Perth Scorchers)
Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars)
James Muirhead (Melbourne Stars)
Mitchell Johnson (Brisbane Heat)
Mitchell Starc (Sydney Sixers)
David Warner (Sydney Thunder)
Shane Watson (Brisbane Heat)
Cameron White (Melbourne Stars)
Three old men of Australian cricket, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg and Brad Haddin have been called up for the tournament, which starts next month in Bangladesh.
The selectors have made it abundantly clear over the past eight months that age is not a barrier to national call-ups and they have been true to their word, picking a 39-year-old batsman and a 43-year-old spinner in an attempt to win the country’s first world title in the shortest format.
There is no doubt the selectors consider Twenty20 a game for experienced heads, with veteran Haddin confirming his status as the preferred gloveman in all three formats by unseating Matthew Wade.
Hodge’s selection is not a great surprise – he played the last two T20 internationals against England, a long overdue reward for becoming the most prolific T20 batsman in the world.
But Hogg sealed his selection alongside 20-year-old Victorian leg spinner James Muirhead with a virtuoso performance in the final of the Big Bash League for the Perth Scorchers. In that respect, the old and new of Australian spin bowling will be on show.
Allrounder James Faulkner, who has had surgery on his knee, is expected to be fit for the tournament, while Cameron White sealed his place with a succession of powerful performances at the top of the order for the Melbourne Stars and Australia.
"We have selected a squad that has plenty of experience playing the Twenty20 format in the sub-continent, which augurs well for the challenges of Bangladesh," chief selector John Inverarity said.
"We have a group with good depth in power hitting and a range of bowling options.
"It has been strengthened by the return of Mitch Johnson, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and David Warner who were not considered recently for Twenty20 selection against England due to the Test Tour of South Africa.
"The NSP was pleased with the way the side performed in those Twenty 20 matches where they played with great confidence and authority.
"Of those performances we were highly impressed with James Muirhead who displayed a good temperament, excellent control and a leg-break that turns significantly. He is an exciting inclusion.
"Brad Hogg comes into the squad as the other frontline spinner.
"Once again Brad bowled very well for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League and many batsmen found him difficult to read. Despite his age, his enthusiasm and fitness are undiminished.
"Brad Hodge has made a great number of Twenty20 runs on the sub-continent and played many match defining innings there.
"He will provide the squad with a great deal of calm experience and knowledge. His inclusion is just reward for his outstanding performances in this form of the game over many seasons."