Hayden omitted from T20, ODI squad

Embattled opener Matthew Hayden, who had an awful Test summer, has been dumped from both Australian squads for the KFC Twenty20 and Commonwealth Bank series against South Africa.

Australia will play two T20 matches against the Proteas on January 11 and January 13 in Melbourne and Brisbane. The five-match CB series will begin on January 16 at the MCG.

Australia's selectors looked to players who could be part of the World Twenty20 in England in June and the 2011 World Cup, promoting young NSW batsman David Warner and Queensland's Ryan Harris to international level. One-day vice captain Michael Clarke will be rested from the T20 matches as he recovers from a ligament injury to his right thumb which required pain-killing injections. Paceman Mitchell Johnson's heavy workload means he will sit out the T20 fixtures as well as the opening two ODI games. South Australian speedster Shaun Tait returns to both squads after a spate of injuries and a self-imposed rest after suffering burnout. ''The announcement of these squads is a clear indication that we are now in full-scale planning for the 2009 World Twenty20 and the 2011 World Cup,'' Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said in a statement today. ''Winning a fourth consecutive World Cup and our first Twenty20 title is an ambitious project. ''For this reason, there will be very few players selected from this point that we can not see playing a role in achieving this goal,'' he added. But, the selectors have left the doors open to Hayden to return for the forthcoming tour of South Africa. ''The omission of Matthew Hayden from the squads is not a reflection on his performances in the recent Test series, but a strategic decision made by the national selection panel as we plan for these signature events,'' Hilditch said. ''His possible selection for the upcoming tour of South Africa will be discussed, as with all players, when we select a squad after the round of interstate matches at the beginning of February.'' Twenty20 squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin (wk), Shaun Marsh, Shaun Tait, David Warner, Ryan Harris, Cameron White, Nathan Hauritz. One-day squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin (wk), James Hopes, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Marsh, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Cameron White, Shaun Tait, Peter Siddle.

-- (UNI) -- 08SPD7.xml

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