News

Bracken named for Twenty20 comeback

Nathan Bracken's hopes of returning to Australia's one-day team this summer have been given a boost after he was named in the New South Wales Twenty20 squad

Cricinfo staff
12-Jan-2010
Nathan Bracken has been out of action for four months  •  Getty Images

Nathan Bracken has been out of action for four months  •  Getty Images

Nathan Bracken's hopes of returning to Australia's one-day team this summer have been given a boost after he was named in the New South Wales Twenty20 squad. Bracken had surgery on his right knee in October and has not played at a high level since the one-dayers in England in September.
He played Sydney grade cricket on the weekend and bowled eight overs, and the Blues have called him in to a 15-man squad for Wednesday's must-win game against Queensland at Stadium Australia. New South Wales have also named Phillip Hughes, who could be released from Australia's Test squad in Hobart if Simon Katich is passed fit.
Aaron Bird has been included in the group and is free to play despite being reported on Monday for a dubious bowling action. The Blues will be taking on a Queensland side featuring Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, who will fly in to Sydney on the day of the match.
New South Wales need to win on Wednesday to have any hope of reaching the finals and ultimately the multi-million-dollar Champions League, which they won last year. The allrounder Moises Henriques, 22, remains in charge of the side in the absence of the captain Katich and his stand-in Stuart Clark.
New South Wales squad Phillip Hughes, David Warner, Phil Jaques, Usman Khawaja, Dwayne Smith, Ben Rohrer, Steven Smith, Moises Henriques (capt), Dominic Thornely, Grant Lambert, Daniel Smith (wk), Steve O'Keefe, Nathan Bracken, Aaron Bird, Mitchell Starc.