Cricket

Australian squad for India announced; Symonds out

Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) on Friday announced a 15–man squad to tour India for a four-Test series next month. The big news was the exclusion of Andrew Symonds from the squad.

Symonds is currently undergoing counselling after he was sent back from Darwin where Australia were playing a one-day series against Bangladesh. Symonds had gone fishing and missed a team meeting as well as an optional training session and was reprimanded by the team management. Shane watson will take over Symonds’ all round responsibilities.

Ricky Ponting, who has been out of action due to injury, was named the skipper. Matthew Hayden, who too has been recovering from injury, was also included in the 15-man squad.

Australia named four uncapped players, Doug Bollinger, Jason Krejza, Bryce McGain and Peter Siddle in the sqaud, which is somewhat strange, considering that this is going to be a tough tour for the entire team and not just the newcomers.

The Test series begins from October 9 in Bangalore, with three more tests in Mohali, Delhi and Nagpur. The Aussies will return next year to play an ODI series as well.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Bryce McGain, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.

Tags: Australia, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2008, India