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Cricket Australia have named their squad that will tour Ireland & the UK this summer. Michael Clarke will captain the side.
Cricket Australia have named their squad that will tour Ireland & the UK this summer. It is an extremely exciting Australian squad that has been named including a fast bowling line featuring Brett Lee, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson & Clint McKay.

Michael Clarke captains a name packed full of international stars for the World’s Number 1 Ranked ODI side. Brett Lee returns to Northern Ireland and is the only member of the Australian team that played in Belfast at Ormeau in 2001 in a game that was washed out inside 24 overs.

The squad has a good blend of youth and experience. Exciting young fast bowler Pat Cummins who burst on to the international scene combines with Steve Smith’s legspin as well as Big Hitters David Warner and Matthew Wade for the youth whilst the Hussey brothers, David and Michael and Brett Lee add the experience.

Michael Clarke (c) NSW 31
Shane Watson (vc) NSW 30
George Bailey TAS 29
Patrick Cummins NSW 19
Xavier Doherty TAS 29
Ben Hilfenhaus TAS 29
Mike Hussey WA 36
David Hussey VIC 34
Mitchell Johnson WA 30
Brett Lee NSW 35
Clint McKay VIC 29
James Pattinson VIC 22
Steve Smith NSW 22
Matthew Wade VIC 24
David Warner NSW 25

Commenting on the ODI squad, National Selector John Inverarity said: “We will have to be at the top of our game to go to England and beat them on their home soil but we’ve selected a strong squad and believe we have the ability to win this one-day series.

“Steve Smith has been rewarded for his late season form. He has come into strong contention for the Australian ICC World Twenty20 squad to be named in August and the NSP is keen to have him in the set-up in England as the reserve batsman, noting that his leg-spinners would provide good variation to our attack.

“Mitchell Johnson has also been included in this ODI squad. He, also, is in strong contention for the ICC World Twenty20 and needs to be in the set-up and have some quality competitive cricket leading into this. The NSP is looking forward to Mitchell being reinvigorated after being out of the game for six months.

“We are also excited about the return of Pat Cummins and we are looking to ease him back into the team. He will not be expected to play in all of the eight scheduled games.

“Peter Forrest, Mitchell Starc, Dan Christian, Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill have not been included in this squad. During the Australian summer and in the West Indies, Peter Forrest and Mitchell Starc were two young players who grasped their opportunities and acquitted themselves well and enhanced their reputations. However, they have made way in this squad for Steve Smith and Pat Cummins.

“In February and March, Dan Christian showed what a very useful and good all-rounder he is, making some strong contributions. He has been omitted to make way for Mitchell Johnson, but remains very much in our plans for the ICC World Twenty20 and a distinct possibility for the ODIs and T20s against Pakistan in August/September.