Lee selection a risk - Hilditch

World Twenty20 2009

Bulletin by shwe Wai

	Brett Lee is part of the Twenty20 squad despite not having bowled at international level in 2009

Australia's chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, admits the selection of Brett Lee in the 15-man World Twenty20 squad represents a sizeable gamble, but was hopeful the fast bowler's forthcoming stint in the IPL will go some way to improving his match fitness. Lee, Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds were all named in Australia's streamlined squad despite limited preparations, and are likely to use the IPL as a springboard into the World Twenty20.

Lee has not played a match at any level since hobbling from the field during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, but is poised to make his return in Thursday's 20-over match against Pakistan in Dubai. With his surgically-repaired foot now able to withstand the rigours of net training, Hilditch said Lee was a risk worth taking ahead of the World Twenty20.

"There is no doubt we spent a lot of time thinking about what the best way would be for Brett to come back," Hilditch told Cricinfo. "We did not want to take any chances with the key objective, which is getting him ready for the Ashes. He has looked extremely fit and has been training now for a few months. He has obviously missed a fair bit of bowling, but he will start with Dubai and then probably need a few more Twenty20 games to get himself going. There is still a month to go before [the World Twenty20], so there is time.

"It is somewhat of a risk. One of the big advantages in getting him over to the UAE was so we could have a good look at him in training and gauge how far he has progressed. He probably isn't quite ready, but with a few more games he will get there. I understand that he will go from the Pakistan series to the IPL, and from there to our player camp."

Lee is one of five pacemen named in Australia's 15-man squad along with Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle. That left no room for Twenty20 specialist Shaun Tait, who is recovering from hamstring tendonitis and had hoped to make a late selection charge.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, David Warner, Shane Watson.