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Stuart Clark is in line to play his first one-dayer since September after Australia recalled him for the CB Series in place of Shaun Tait, who has taken a break from cricket. The switch is the only change to the side that emphatically reclaimed the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy from New Zealand in December, although this will be Adam Gilchrist’s last one-day series.

Brad Haddin retains his place as a specialist batsman, though it would be no surprise if he took over the gloves from Gilchrist at some point in the series. He had already deputised in the final match of the Chappell-Hadlee tournament and is seen as Australia’s keeper-in-waiting. Andrew Hilditch, Australia’s head selector, said: “The national selection panel saw no reason to change that particular squad since it won the trophy so convincingly.”

Tait’s decision, meanwhile, has forced the hand of the selectors, who had seemed reluctant to persevere with Clark in the one-day set-up. Clark played three of the seven matches in the India series in September and October, the first of which was washed out before he had bowled, he took 2 for 14 in the second and 1 for 44 from 8.4 overs in the last.

Prior to that, his last ODI outing was a solitary appearance in the World Cup, against Ireland, where he took a wicket, although Glenn McGrath, the then-premier fast bowler, was still in operation at the time.

With Tait out, Clark would have been called into the series-opening Twenty20 at the MCG on Friday but is unavailable owing to a slight ankle problem. He is expected to make a return to one-day cricket in the first match against India in Brisbane on February 3.

The tri-series, which includes Sri Lanka, stretches into March with three possible finals then. Before that each team plays each other three times, meaning six matches apiece in the group stage, a total of 12 group games.

Australia squad Adam Gilchrist (wk), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, James Hopes, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken.

Source:Cricket News