Ponting given chance to rest

Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel (NSP) have announced the Australia squads to play eight one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches on the tour of England.

The ODI squad is:

Ricky Ponting (captain) TAS
Michael Clarke (vice-captain) NSW
Nathan Bracken NSW
Callum Ferguson SA
Brad Haddin NSW
Nathan Hauritz NSW
Ben Hilfenhaus TAS
James Hopes QLD
Michael Hussey WA
Mitchell Johnson WA
Brett Lee NSW
Tim Paine TAS (selected subject to fitness)
Peter Siddle VIC
Shane Watson NSW
Cameron White VIC

The Twenty20 squad is:
Michael Clarke (captain) NSW
Brad Haddin (vice-captain) NSW
Callum Ferguson SA
Nathan Hauritz NSW
Ben Hilfenhaus TAS
David Hussey VIC
Mitchell Johnson WA
Brett Lee NSW
Dirk Nannes VIC
Adam Voges WA
David Warner NSW
Shane Watson NSW
Cameron White VIC

Commenting on the squads, NSP Chairman, Andrew Hilditch, said:

"The National Selection Panel has today picked separate squads for the Twenty20 and one-day internationals in England as we plan for the World Twenty20 in the West Indies in May next year.?

"Ricky Ponting is having his workload managed and will return home to Australia after the fifth Test at The Oval and will miss the ODI against Scotland, the two Twenty20s and the start of the of the ODI series against England.

"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. 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.

"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.

"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.

"Peter Siddle is an exciting young bowler and we are sure that he will be a good Twenty20 bowler in time, but we are keen to look at different players as specialist Twenty20 players in these two matches. In this instance we have selected Dirk Nannes following his strong domestic performances in recent seasons to have a look at him in the Australian set up.

"Adam Voges also comes into the side, with his batting, fielding and left-arm orthodox spin adding versatility to the team's make-up.

"With respect to the one-day side, we have picked a team that we believe can do well against England, but with a view to preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa which follows directly after the series.

"The one new face is Tim Paine. Tim performed outstandingly in the recent Australia A series and we thought it was necessary to have a second wicketkeeper on tour.

"Tim has been picked not only because he is an excellent wicketkeeper but because he has opened the batting in this form of the game with great success, which gives us good versatility if Brad Haddin misses any of the ODIs.?