Cullen chases elusive comeback

Four months after losing his Cricket Australia contract, Dan Cullen knows that adding to his one Test and four one-day international appearances will be difficult in the immediate future. Cullen was named in Australia's 30-man preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy but he realises there are several spin options ahead of him in the selectors' plans.

Cameron White was given first crack at the one-day role vacated by Brad Hogg in March, although Australia have also been happy to rely on the part-time offerings of Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke. The large Champions Trophy group also included Xavier Doherty, the Tasmanian left-armer who topped the domestic one-day wicket tally last season, and the former international offspinner Nathan Hauritz.

Cullen, who last played for Australia in September 2006, said it was hard to ignore White's all-round capabilities. "He played a few games in the West Indies, his batting has really come on in the past few years and his bowling is going OK," Cullen told the Advertiser. "He is definitely in there as an all-round option."

White was chosen for the three-game ODI series against Bangladesh in Darwin, which starts later this month, while a final squad for the Champions Trophy is yet to be announced. There is uncertainty over whether the tournament will go ahead in Pakistan but even if Australia agree to play there, Cullen knows his chances of selection are slim.

"I am not sure if they will go, hopefully a decision will be made soon," Cullen said. "If Australia does go I am not sure if they will want to take a [specialist] spinner or stick with what they have been doing.

"Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds showed they could do the job in the World Cup and the recent tour of the West Indies. I guess that is the right choice for the time being."

Cullen was South Australia's leading one-day wicket-taker in 2007-08 with 13 at 28.30. His chances of a Test recall were not helped by a high Pura Cup average last season - he collected 18 victims at 49.44 - and the New South Wales spinner Beau Casson is the first in line at Test level after making his debut in the Caribbean.