Roles of Warne, Watson increased for Pakistan series

The two Shanes - Warne and Watson - are likely to play a significant role for Australia when one-day international cricket returns to Melbourne's Colonial Stadium next month.

After the national selection panel's decision to cut Ian Harvey and Nathan Hauritz from the line-up, Warne remained the only spinner included in the 13-man party named today for the three-match series against Pakistan. Watson, meanwhile, represents the sole all-rounder in the squad.

Along with pace quartet Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee and Andy Bichel, both players are now expected to perform major roles at the bowling crease throughout the series.

"It's great to be given another opportunity to play for Australia," said Watson, 20, who made his international debut as part of a total of four matches in South Africa last month.

"I learnt so much from the last tour and I've been continuing to work really hard to try and develop my game to be able to play well at international level.

"Being able to play for Australia is exciting in itself but the chance to play games at home is even more of a thrill, definitely.

"Obviously, there's an exciting opportunity there for me now but there's also a lot of hard work in front of me too to try and secure the all-rounder's spot."

Australia's selectors have flirted with Harvey, Shane Lee and Andrew Symonds in the all-rounder's position for the last three years but none has genuinely made the spot his own. The optimism about his future that is reflected in Watson's selection for this series is unmistakable.

Aside from the omissions of Harvey and Hauritz, the selectors have otherwise opted to retain faith in the new-look squad that enjoyed a crushing 5-1 win in the recent series in South Africa.

Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist retain their leadership roles, and batsmen Matthew Hayden, Darren Lehmann and Jimmy Maher have all been re-included after being recalled to the team and indulging in excellent individual campaigns in South Africa.

The first two games in the three-match series against Pakistan will be contested at Colonial on 12 and 15 June respectively, before the players head north to the 'Gabba ground in Brisbane for the third and final encounter - on 19 June.

Pakistan's squad is likely to be finalised by the end of this month.

The full Australian squad is: Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist (v-c), Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Shane Watson.