Cricket
Hughes recalled for India tour
2010-09-02 08:18
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Melbourne - Opener Phillip Hughes and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz were recalled on Thursday for Australia's tour to India next month, but wicketkeeper Brad Haddin didn't recover in time to make the 15-man squad.
Australia will play two Tests and three limited-overs internationals against India immediately before returning to home and trying to regain the Ashes in a five-Test series against England.
Young pacemen Peter George and Josh Hazlewood were selected to reinforce the fast bowling stocks spearheaded by Mitchell Johnson, while 21-year-old leg-spinner Steven Smith was retained as the slow bowling understudy to Hauritz.
"India is ranked No. 1 in Test cricket and there is no harder assignment in Test cricket at the moment than playing India on their home soil," Australia's chief selector Andrew Hilditch said.
Hauritz missed Australia's drawn series against Pakistan in England with an injured foot, while Hughes hasn't been a regular in the Test squad since he was dropped midway through the last Ashes series when his form slumped in England despite an impressive maiden tour in South Africa earlier in 2009.
"While it was disappointing to draw the series against Pakistan, the squad reflects the good performances of the team over the last 12 months as we continue to prepare for the Ashes," Hilditch said.
Alex Kountouris, the Australian team's physiotherapist, said Haddin was making good progress with his rehabilitation from an elbow tendon injury but was not yet ready to return to Test cricket.
"He is due to commence restricted batting in the next few weeks ... with the possibility of being available for selection in the one-day international series.
Test squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine, Steven Smith and Shane Watson.
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