Hodge left out as Australia name 30-member CT squad

The squad does not include controversial all-rounder Andrew Symonds,who was sent back home from England on disciplinary grounds just before the start of Twenty20 World Cup besides scrapping his Cricket Australia contract.

Fast bowler Brett Lee,who suffered a side-strain injury just before the first Ashes Test,and injury-prone all-rounder Shane Watson also made the cut.

National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said the squad was picked with a view to rebuild a side for the 2011 World Cup as well as to make it strong enough to defend the Champions Trophy title which they won in India in 2006.

“The Australian side is currently in a rebuilding phase as we prepare for the 2011 ICC World Cup,following the loss of so many important players from the 2007 World Cup-winning team.

The ICC Champions Trophy is a key event in international cricket and a very important one for Australia as we look to lift our ODI performances to retain this trophy,” Hilditch said.

“The squad recognises the performances of our proven one-day international players,the strong performance of the Australia A side in the recent one-day series against Pakistan A and the performances of our interstate players in the Ford Ranger Cup. The squad sees the inclusion of several exciting young players who we see as potentially very important to our future including Phillip Hughes,Callum Ferguson,Moises Henriques,Jon Holland,Tim Paine and Clinton McKay,” Hilditch said.

The Probables: Ricky Ponting (capt.),Michael Clarke (vice-capt.) Doug Bollinger,Nathan Bracken,Callum Ferguson,Brett Geeves,Brad Haddin,Ryan Harris,Nathan Hauritz,Moises Henriques,Ben Hilfenhaus,Jon Holland,James Hopes,Phillip Hughes,David Hussey,Mike Hussey,Mitchell Johnson,Jason Krejza,Brett Lee,Shaun Marsh,Andrew McDonald,Clinton McKay,Marcus North,Tim Paine,Peter Siddle,Shaun Tait,Adam Voges,David Warner,Shane Watson,Cameron White.