Tait recalled while Clark misses out

SYDNEY—Australia’s reluctance to persevere with Stuart Clark as a one-day bowler has opened the door for Shaun Tait to reclaim his spot following a lengthy recovery from an elbow injury. After being picked in the Twenty20 squad for Tuesday, Tait was chosen in the 13-man Chappell-Hadlee Trophy outfit for the contest that starts in Adelaide on December 14.
Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, recognised Tait’s strong performance at the World Cup and was determined to get him back in the team as soon as he had overcome the problems associated with his surgery. A 10-wicket haul against Queensland in the Pura Cup helped fast-track his inclusion and he forced out Clark, who is struggling to maintain a limited-overs role despite his strong Test displays.
Tait will be one of four fast-bowling options alongside Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken and he has no plans to hold back. “That’s one thing I’ll refuse to do, is to bowl within myself,” Tait told AAP. “If I’m going to bowl within myself I won’t play ... I want to go in and bowl as fast as I can.”
Andrew Symonds has proved his ankle is ready for international action while James Hopes holds the spot he gained with all-round contributions on the tour to India. Hopes has struggled with hamstring problems over the opening stages of the summer, but Hilditch said his form had been strong since he returned.
Hopes picked up 61 off 49 balls to go with three wickets for Queensland against South Australia on Wednesday and he said the past week felt like the first normal one of the season. The timely performance reminded the selectors of his dual capabilities and he will enter the series in full fitness.
“After missing the squad for the Twenty20 game I’m just happy to be in,” Hopes told Cricinfo. “It’s good that I haven’t been forgotten about because it would have been understandable if they went with someone else.”
Hopes played each match of the India one-day series, chipping in with 136 runs and six wickets, and the memory of his development also influenced the selectors. He originally injured his hamstring in the final ODI of the tour and returned too soon, picking up another leg problem playing for Queensland in Perth.
“I had six and a half good games then missed the Twenty20 over in India, then I had to come back again after Perth, so until the last week it felt like I hadn’t started the summer,” he said. “In the last week I’ve played a four-dayer and got my touch back.”
Brad Haddin’s duties look set to increase as he provides the wicketkeeping back-up for Adam Gilchrist during the series. Gilchrist has been picked for the Twenty20 and one-day squads, but the selection of Haddin increases the likelihood he will be rested during the three-match series. Ricky Ponting will be in charge again after missing the Twenty20 international along with Matthew Hayden, who will travel to Adelaide in good health after spending an hour running laps of Allan Border Field on Thursday.
Australia squad Adam Gilchrist (wk), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, James Hopes, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, Nathan Bracken.—Agencies