With a packed international schedule awaiting them in the next few months, Australian captain Ricky Ponting, pacer Mitchell Johnson and all-rounder Shane Watson were rested from the 14-member squad for the one-day series against India starting on October 17.
“Player workload management is particularly important over the course of the next seven months as we prepare a squad to defend the World Cup in India and the subcontinent and to win the Ashes back from England,” Australia’s National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.
Hilditch said all the players would be rotated during the next few months to ensure that there is no burnout.
“Each individual player has a program developed in collaboration between the players, the coaching and conditioning staff and the NSP, which will get each player to the end of April 2011 in the best possible physical condition and, we hope, with plenty of Australian success on the field.
“With that in mind, Ricky Ponting will not take part in this one-day series. The NSP has decided as part of the ongoing management of Ricky’s workload he should not take part in this series. The demands of back-to-back Test matches in tough Indian conditions have been taken into consideration,” he explained.
“In addition, Ricky faces a very demanding domestic summer on his return to Australia and will have no other opportunity for a break from the start of the domestic season until after the much-awaited ICC Cricket World Cup in India and the subcontinent, which begins in February next year.
“Mitchell Johnson will also have his workload managed and not take part in the series. As Mitchell is now the leader of our bowling attack, and with numerous injuries to our fast bowling stocks at present, it is essential we manage his workload so he can get through the domestic summer and the ICC Cricket World Cup,” Hilditch said.
“Shane Watson also will not take part in the series. The NSP considers it essential that he has a break to ensure that can fulfil his vital role during our domestic summer and of course the World Cup.
“It is essential to the balance of our side that Shane can open the batting and play the all-round role. Shane’s playing and training program has been carefully managed over the last couple of years and we have decided the best way of ensuring he can play this role is for him to miss the one-day component of this series,” he added.
