| alia's selectors have admitted they have taken a | | | | no question he's going to be fit. He just needs to get |
| gamble on Brett Lee's fitness by naming the fast | | | | some bowling into him. |
| bowler in their squad for next month's ICC World | | | | "There was a lot of discussion as to whether this |
| Twenty20 in England. | | | | was the right way to bring him back into cricket or |
| Lee, who uses a Woodworm cricket bats, has been | | | | not. |
| named in the 15-man squad despite not playing any | | | | "It was Brett's view and also the coaching staff that |
| competitive cricket since he broke down in the | | | | it was the right way to go not only for this |
| Boxing Day Test against South Africa with ankle and | | | | tournament but also leading into the Ashes. It's a bit |
| foot injuries. | | | | of a risk but we believe it's a calculated risk to go |
| But Lee is close to regaining full fitness again and is | | | | down this path. |
| currently in the United Arab Emirates with Australia | | | | "The Ashes squad hasn't been picked yet but we |
| where his recovery is being monitored by the national | | | | looked long and hard at getting Brett ready through |
| team's medical staff. | | | | the Twenty20 World Cup for the Ashes. We think |
| Lee's inclusion in the Twenty20 squad suggests that | | | | it's the best way to go. So here we have good |
| he is also likely to be named in Australia's squad for | | | | opportunity for this. Ashes is always have own |
| this summer's Ashes series in England. The Ashes | | | | prestige as well Twenty20 World Cup has own, so |
| squad is due to be named later this month along with | | | | here very difficult to select which one is on priority |
| a new list of Cricket Australia's 25 contracted players. | | | | and as a individual player you can't say which |
| "We looked long and hard as to whether Brett would | | | | tournament is best. According to me both are best, |
| be available for the Twenty20 World Cup," said | | | | two different types of cricket and both are much |
| Australia' chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch. | | | | successful and hope for always. |
| "That's one of the reasons why we wanted him to | | | | "It's not ideal. It would have been better if he had |
| come to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, to have a look at him, | | | | played more cricket before now. The coaching staff |
| to train with the group. | | | | will set up a program for him during the Twenty20 |
| "He's still going to have a fair bit of work to do | | | | tournament and if he is in the (Ashes) squad, he will |
| before the Twenty20 World Cup starts. | | | | be doing extra training outside what is required for |
| "He's going to play on Thursday night but to be quite | | | | Twenty20. |
| frank, we expect him to take several Twenty20 | | | | "Whoever is picked in the (Ashes) squad, the two |
| matches with cricket equipment to get his rhythm | | | | warm-up matches before the first Test will be very |
| back because he's going to be a bit rusty. | | | | important. |
| "Given the tournament is still a month away, there's | | | | |