Australia will rest fast bowlers Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath along with wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for next week’s Twenty20 international cricket match against South Africa in Brisbane.
Chairperson of selectors Trevor Hohns said the plan was to keep the trio fresh ahead of the triangular one-day series against South Africa and Sri Lanka, starting in Melbourne on January 13.
Australia will take on the Proteas in the Twenty20 match at the Gabba on January 9.
”Twenty20 cricket is still a bit of an unknown to us but we have tried to keep as much of the one-day squad together as possible,” Hohns said in a statement on Wednesday.
”Having said that, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist have not been selected in order to enable each of them to freshen up before the VB Series.
”Brett, Glenn and Adam have worked particularly hard during the Melbourne and Sydney Test matches and we want to manage each of their respective workloads carefully.”
Selectors have named Mike Hussey as vice-captain to skipper Ricky Ponting.
”Michael Hussey has been named vice-captain of the team and this is certainly a feather in his cap,” Hohns said.
”He has done an excellent job in the one-day format, and we have every confidence that he has the necessary ingredients to take on this additional responsibility.”
Brad Haddin was chosen as Australia’s wicketkeeper in place of the rested Gilchrist. – Sapa-AFP