Country first!

Some of Australia's elite cricketers, now engaged in the ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE, are paying the price for loyalty to country over moolah considerations

Country first!

Some of Australia's elite cricketers, now engaged in the ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE, are paying the price for loyalty to country over moolah considerations

While the likes of cricketing has-beens such as Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden are raking in the lolly in the cash-rich IPL, some of Australia's elite cricketers, now engaged in the ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE, are paying the price for loyalty to country over moolah considerations.

Six members of the current team now playing in the Arabian desert are seriously out of pocket for opting to play for their country in hopes of being chosen to represent Australia in the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June and the Ashes series thereafter.

To compound matters, the chances of the current lot of selected Australians joining other players ho are laughing all the way to the bank with their astronomical earnings being able to play in the IPL are getting slimmer.

The Australians are scheduled to play a series against New Zealand next March before the IPL tournament which, as presently scheduled, will clash with the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

Since the clash of dates will deprive the IPL of its star players, the tournament could be brought forward, bringing about a clash with the Australia-New Zealand series and result in the Australians missing out again on their piece of the IPL cake.
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The sands of time are running out on Brett Lee's hopes of playing in the showpiece Ashes series in England next summer.

It is learnt the explosive fast bowler is only 70 per cent fit and woefully short of his wonted devastating pace after his comeback following foot and ankle surgery.

The Australian selectors, whou00a0 were keen to see Lee fit in time for the ongoing ODI series against Pakistan, now fear he will be seriously short of match practice, if not peak fitness, to pass their stern examination from a pool which consists of Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds, Andrew McDonald, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle.
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Australian acting captain Michael Clarke, who was instrumental in dropping Andrew Symonds from the team, has welcomed the enfant terrible back into the fold despite his chequered past.

"I guess as leader of this group, he comes into the group as every other player that walks back into the team," Clarke said in Dubai ahead of their first ODI which Pakistan won by four wickets on Wednesday. Symonds scored two.

"Obviously Cricket Australia have made it clear that he was right to come back and as captain of this team I've tried to make him as welcome as possible."

Clarke said the troubled all-rounder's performances in the UAE would decide his future prospects as a vital cog in the Australian machine.

Clarke said it was up to Symonds, who has undergone counselling after being dropped from the Test and one-day sides for a number of occasions for disciplinary infractions, to make amends.

Asked whether the powerhouse all-rounder needed to prove he had mended his ways off the field, Clarke replied: "That's probably a question for Symo."

Symonds' form has been notably unimpressive after his return to one-day domestic cricket after rehabilitation.

In Clarke's view, Symonds had a debt to repay with the bat, ball and in the field after being selected.

"They've (the selectors) have obviously shown faith in him again by re-selecting him for this tour.

"Everybody knows he's a wonderful player when he's playing his best cricket."u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0