Injured captain Michael Clarke has been named in Australia's Test and one-day cricket squads for next month's series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates as he battles to recover from a hamstring strain.
Michael Clarke during the Ashes, Adelaide, 2013. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Clarke flew home from Zimbabwe last week after aggravating his left hamstring during a one-day international tournament.
Australia's selectors are clearly hedging their bets of a recovery and named Clarke captain of the 15-man squad for the tests and also skipper of the 14-member ODI squad.
All-rounder Shane Watson has been named in all three test, one-day and T20 squads, after missing the one-day tournament against Zimbabwe and South Africa, having rolled an ankle when he stepped on a ball at training.
Top order batsman David Warner, who was rested from the Zimbabwe tour, has also been named in all three squads.
Selectors have included left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O'Keefe and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in the test squad.
All-rounder George Bailey, who made his test debut against England at home last year but was dropped for the South Africa series after struggling with the bat, has also been named in the squad with top order batsman Phil Hughes.
Hughes, who has been in and out of the Australian team during his 26-test career, would travel to the UAE earlier than his team mates to spend time working on his batting against spin with the team's coaching consultant, former Sri Lanka test bowler Muttiah Muralitharan.
Selectors have also named uncapped New South Wales fast bowler Sean Abbott in both the one-day and T20 squads, with exciting young paceman Pat Cummins named in the T20 squad and set for his first international cricket in two years following a serious back injury.
Australia test squad:
Michael Clarke (captain), Alex Doolan, Phil Hughes, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Johnson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.
ODI squad:
Michael Clarke (captain), Sean Abbott, George Bailey, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson
T20 squad:
Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Cameron Boyce, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson
