Andrew Symonds called up into VB Series squad

Andrew Symonds has been added to Australia's squad for the VB Series, it was announced today.

The Queensland all-rounder, currently with Australia A in Adelaide for its one-day match against the Sri Lankans, will link up with the senior side on Wednesday ahead of its match against Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground the following day (9 January).

Symonds, also part of the Australia squad for the forthcoming World Cup in southern Africa, has been drafted in after fast bowlers Glenn McGrath (left side strain) and Jason Gillespie (left elbow) were ruled out of the Sri Lanka match through injury.

His presence in the squad will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Explaining the choice of Symonds, Chairman of the National Selection Panel Trevor Hohns said: "We have included Andrew because, in the first instance, we were keen to go with players in the World Cup squad.

"This is a good opportunity to give all the players the chance to do as much work as possible as a unit ahead of that tournament.

"Also, we hope to have at least one of our injured fast bowlers, Glenn McGrath, back sooner rather than later so we preferred to look inside the World Cup squad for a player to come in."

Symonds will travel to Sydney on the same flight as Darren Lehmann and Jimmy Maher, the two other members of the Australia A side linking up with the senior side for the VB Series.