Thursday, May 10, 2012

Smith and Johnson named in one-day squad

Updated May 10, 2012 15:16:09

All-rounder Steve Smith and fast bowler Mitchell Johnson have been recalled to Australia's one-day squad for the tour of the British Isles in June and July.

Smith, 22, last played for Australia in a one-day international against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in October last year.

Smith has played 29 one-day matches for Australia, scoring 343 runs with the bat at an average of 22.86, and taken 22 wickets for 755 runs at an average of 34.31.

He scored 492 runs for NSW in the Sheffield Shield last season, plus 189 runs in five matches in domestic one-dayers. He also led NSW to victory in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.

National selector John Inverarity said Smith had been chosen for his late season form for NSW, saying the 22-year-old had been picked as a back-up all-rounder.

"I see Steve Smith primarily as a batsman but he needs to improve, I'm keen to see him improve his leg spin, he is electrifying in the field," Inverarity said.

"We need bowlers to bat but we need batsman who can bowl a bit - Steve and Mark Waugh gave so much to the side with their bowling."

Another picked to make a return to international cricket is Western Australian paceman Johnson, 30, who last played for Australia against South Africa in the Johannesburg Test last November.

Johnson injured his toe in the South African series, ruling him out of the Australian summer, but his return of only three wickets at a cost of 255 runs in the series had put his spot in doubt.

Inverarity said Johnson was a "fine bowler", who he had recently seen bowl in Perth.

Johnson is in contention for the Australian World Twenty20 squad to be named in August, and selectors believe he needs quality competitive cricket before then.

Inverarity said the one-day squad had been picked with the 2013 Ashes against England in mind.

Australia will only have one wicket-keeper for the British Isles tour in Victorian Matthew Wade, while Tasmanian Tim Paine - who is returning from injury - will put on the gloves for Australia A's tour of England in July and August.

Inverarity said New South Wales keeper Brad Haddin will have "all the time he needs" to return after personal issues forced him to withdraw from Australia's recent Test tour of the West Indies.

Dropped from the one-day squad were Queensland's Peter Forrest, New South Welshmen Mitchell Starc and Peter Nevill and South Australians Dan Christian and Nathan Lyon.

Forrest, Starc and Nevill will go on the Australia A tour.

Blues pair Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja have been left out of both squads. Inverarity said their performances during the summer were unsatisfactory but their form during the English county cricket competition will be monitored.

Smith, Johnson, George Bailey and Patrick Cummins have been named in both squads. Cummins has recovered from a heel injury.

Australia One-day squad:

Michael Clarke (C) (NSW)
Shane Watson (VC) (NSW)
George Bailey (TAS)
Patrick Cummins (NSW)
Xavier Doherty (TAS)
Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS)
Mike Hussey (WA)
David Hussey (VIC)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Brett Lee (NSW)
Clint McKay (VIC)
James Pattinson (VIC)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Matthew Wade (VIC)
David Warner (NSW)

Australia A squad:
Ed Cowan (C) TAS
Peter Forrest (VC) (QLD)
George Bailey (TAS)
Jackson Bird (TAS)
Joe Burns (QLD)
Tom Cooper (SA)
Patrick Cummins (NSW)
Ben Cutting (QLD)
Liam Davis (WA)
Jon Holland (VIC)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Michael Klinger (SA)
Nathan Lyons (SA)
Tim Paine (TAS)
James Pattinson (VIC)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Mitchell Starc (NSW)

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted May 10, 2012 14:16:55


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