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Melbourne: The Cricket Australia (CA) National Selection Panel (NSP) has today announced a 12-player squad for the first Vodafone Test against Sri Lanka starting on Friday 14 December at Hobart's Blundstone Arena.
Phillip Hughes has been selected to fill the vacancy created by Ricky Ponting's retirement. Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Rob Quiney and Alex Doolan were the four batsmen to come under consideration to bat high in the order.
Phillip is an improved player and his recent and overall career statistics present a compelling case.
He has received this call-up, his third, as it was considered to be the right time and circumstances for him to re-establish himself.
Michael Clarke will give careful consideration to his batting order during the next few days.
The four pace bowlers in the squad are Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. John Hastings and Josh Hazlewood, not being able to be declared fit to perform at the time of selection, were not considered.
The squad welcomes the return of Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle. Neither bowler was considered to be 100 per cent fit to perform and was not included in the final squad of 12 for the recent Perth Vodafone Test match against South Africa.
The Australian squad for the first Vodafone Test against Sri Lanka is:
