ACB announces Australia A squad to face South Africa A in April

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland today announced that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen the following players to represent Australia A in a series of limited-overs and three-day matches against South Africa A next month.

The squad, to be captained by Queenslander Jimmy Maher, is:

*Shane Harwood's selection is subject to fitness.

Team management - Allan Border (Coach), Trevor Robertson (Team Manager), Stephen Partridge (Physiotherapist).

In what will be the first international series Australia has hosted during April, Australia A will contest six limited-over matches and two three-day games against South Africa A in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth.

The series is a reciprocal tour to last September's Travelex Australia A tour to South Africa. On that tour, Australia A won five of the six limited-over matches.

NSP Chairman Trevor Hohns said the overriding philosophy in selecting the squad was to develop players capable of performing at the international level.

"Many players picked in this squad have either been in national sides or on the cusp of international selection for some time, so the series will provide them with the chance to get some quality time in the middle against a good opponent," Hohns said.

"It is very much a development squad, as we look to blood those players capable of filling key positions in the national side over coming years.

"In saying that, we are also keen to have players like Maher, Bracken, Harvey, Hauritz and Symonds playing international cricket ahead of their possible inclusion in the one-day international team for the West Indies tour."

Hohns said the team selected is not necessarily Australia's second-best side, but is a well-balanced squad with sufficient depth to be successful in either limited-over or three-day cricket.

"Players not selected for this Australia A series should not lose faith in being selected down the track. They certainly are not out of the picture," he said.

Within the 14-man squad, two players will be making their Australia A debut. Victorian Bushrangers' paceman Shane Harwood and Western Warriors batsman Chris Rogers have gained national selection for the first time.

Harwood, originally from the Victorian country town of Ballarat, made his first-class debut for the Bushrangers against the Tasmanian Tigers in Melbourne last October.

On that occasion the 29-year-old became just the third Australian cricketer - and first Victorian - to take a hat-trick in his first-class debut. He went on to take 28 first-class wickets for the season at an average of 26.42, including best figures of 5-54 against the New South Wales Blues in Sydney last December.

Upon Harwood's selection, Hohns said: "Shane really took a lot of players by surprise this summer and we have been impressed with his pace and ability to move the ball both ways.

"He is a genuine talent and deserves his chance to play at this level," he said.

Twenty-five-year-old batsman Chris Rogers scored 838 first-class runs for the year at an average of 46.55 - the fourth highest total for the summer.

Hohns said Rogers was another young batsman who had impressed selectors throughout the season.

"We needed to look at young players around the country who are performing consistently and look capable of taking the next step in their cricket development.

"Chris Rogers is one of those young batsman who has enjoyed a strong season in domestic competitions and we are keen to see how he performs at the next level," Hohns said.