Aussies name W/Cup squad for WI series

The Australian squad that won this year’s cricket World Cup has been selected for next month’s limited-overs series with West Indies.

The only player involved in the World Cup who did not make the squad was fast bowler Nathan Bracken, who was only called into the World Cup squad as cover for injured paceman Jason Gillespie, who is fit again. “Winning a tournament as important as that is a fairly good indicator that at this point in time, we have the right player-mix at the one-day international level,” Australia’s chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a statement. “The players we have selected all deserve their place in the squad,” he said.

Batsmen Damien Martyn was selected pending a fitness test. The West Australian broke his finger in South Africa, forcing him to miss the Test series against West Indies but is expected to recover in time for the one-dayers. “We will keep close watch on his progress and make a decision on his availability for the series based on the relevant medical advice, closer to the time of departure,” Hohns said. Paceman Glenn McGrath, who left the tour to return home when his wife was diagnosed with cancer, was also chosen when he announced last week he was planning to rejoin the team after doctors said his wife’s illness was fully treatable. Australia and West Indies are scheduled to play each other in seven one-day internationals between May 17 and June 1.

Australia squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Hauritz, Ian Harvey, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds.