Australian skipper Ricky Ponting will get a short break after the Ashes as the selectors have decided to rest him from the two Twenty20 games and the start of the eight-match ODI series against England.
After the fifth and final Test at The Oval from August 20, Australia will play a one-dayer against Scotland on August 28 followed by a couple of Twenty20 matches against England.
The ODI series against England starts September 4. Michael Clarke will captain the side in the Twenty20 matches with Brad Haddin as his deputy.
“This is the last opportunity we have to give Ricky a break until next year, with the ICC Champions Trophy, ODIs against India and of course a full domestic summer against the West Indies and Pakistan to finish 2009,” Hildicth said.
“The plan for him to return to Australia before rejoining the team is considered the most appropriate course of action. This gives Michael Clarke another opportunity to captain the Australian Twenty20 and ODI side,” he added.
Pace spearhead Brett Lee, who has missed the Ashes so far due to a rib injury, has been included in both the Twenty20 and ODI squads.
Mike Hussey and in-form pacer Peter Siddle have, however, been dropped from the Twenty20 side.
“Notable omissions from the Twenty20 squad are Mike Hussey, Peter Siddle and Nathan Bracken. The NSP is using the two matches against England to look at different make-ups to the squad and include players who we consider Twenty20 specialists in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 next year,” Hilditch explained.
“We obviously know what Mike Hussey and Nathan Bracken are capable of in one-day and Twenty20 cricket, but with limited opportunities at international level in this format of the game we wanted to look at different players as we look to improve our Twenty20 performances. Their omissions do not mean we won’t look to them for the World Twenty20.
Rookie pacer Dirk Nannes, who impressed during his stint with the Indian Premier League side Delhi Daredevils, was taken in the Twenty20 side in place of Siddle.
”...we have selected Dirk Nannes following his strong domestic performances in recent seasons to have a look at him in the Australian set up,” Hilditch said.
