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All-rounder Shane Watson has been recalled to the Australian squad for the one-day tri-series finals starting on Friday.
The injury-plagued Watson has been rushed back in the place of fellow Queenslander Andrew Symonds, ruled out after undergoing surgery for a torn bicep, while pacemen Stuart Clark and Shaun Tait have been dropped from the streamlined 13-man squad named yesterday.
Watson has been recalled after overcoming the hamstring injury which robbed him of the chance of playing in Australia's 5-0 Ashes whitewash.
He returned to first-class action for Queensland last week, making an unbeaten 46 and taking three for 60 in the Bulls' Pura Cup loss to Western Australia.
Chief selector Andrew Hilditch said Watson had proved his fitness through domestic cricket and gave plenty of flexibility to Australia's squad.
"Shane adds a great balance to the Australian one-day side and was an important member of the victorious Australian side at the ICC Champions Trophy," Hilditch said.
Tait and Clark will return to state duties after the one-day squad was pruned from 15 to 13 but Hilditch denied their World Cup hopes were over.
"Both Stuart and Shaun were unlucky to be omitted and remain very much in contention for selection in the ICC Cricket World Cup squad, which will be named at the conclusion of the finals series," he said.
The series begins in Melbourne on Friday, before travelling to Sydney on Sunday and then Adelaide if required on Tuesday.
- AAP
