06 May,2009 08:06 AM IST | | Khalid A-H Ansari
An eye palpably focused on the all-important Ashes series in England in July, the Australian selectors are obviously hoping the present Indian Premier League will enable Brett Lee and a chosen few to regain form and fitness ahead of next month's Twenty20 World Cup.
Although captain Ricky Ponting has made no secret of his determination to prove to the world that his team is second to none in the slam-bang form of the game as well, the team announced yesterday for the 20-over World Cup starting on June 5 reveals the selectors' Twenty20 vision.
It would seem that by admitting they are taking a risk in choosing the underdone Lee, who has not played any cricket for more than four months because of injury, ahead of in-form pace bowler Doug Bollinger, the Australian selectors have manifestly given the longer-term objective of defeating old enemy England in the Ashes, precedence over winning the T20 title.
"The Ashes squad hasn't been picked yet but we looked long and hard at getting Brett ready through the Twenty20 World Cup for the Ashes. We think it's the best way to go," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.
In what also appears to be a case of triumph of hope over reality, Shane Watson and Peter Siddle have been chosen despite their long lay-offs from bowling because of injury.
The selectors also seem to be hoping T20 will enable Andrew Symonds, who finds a place in the squad despite his recent personal travails and unimpressive performances in three of the four matches against Pakistan in the UAE, to recapture his destructive powers in time. The same forward thinking also appears to have influenced the selection of spinner Nathan Hauritz, who has not yet played a Twenty20 international.
The squad for the Ashes, to be played in July-August, will be named on May 21 or 22, along with a new list of Cricket Australia's 25 contracted players.
Ricky Ponting is expected to be offered a contract of around Aus$ 1.1 million, vice-captain Michel Clarke one million and match-winning bowling all-rounder Mitchell Johnson a shade under $1 million.
