Gillespie cleared for Australia A action

Jason Gillespie has been given the all-clear to take his place in the Australia A squad that will play one-day matches against the New Zealanders and South Africans, it was announced today.

The South Australian fast bowler had missed the second and third Orange Test matches of the recent series against South Africa after suffering inflammation of the rotator muscles in his right shoulder.

But after being given a fitness assessment by Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott and physical performance manager Jock Campbell, Gillespie has been cleared to play again.

The 26 year-old flew into Sydney on Saturday morning and headed for the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he bowled two spells in the nets either side of a two-hour break.

The first spell, to former Australian captain, current selector and Australia A coach Allan Border, involved a five-over burst, and the second, in mid-afternoon, saw him send down a further four overs.

After completing those spells without any problems, Gillespie was then further assessed on Sunday morning to ensure there were no problems resulting from those spells.

Having been passed fit to play again, Gillespie will fly from Sydney to Brisbane on Monday 7 January to link up with his Australia A team-mates ahead of a one-day match with the New Zealanders at The Gabba the following day.

Errol Alcott said: "We're very pleased with the way Jason has pulled up after his first bowl for a couple of weeks.

"He's feeling good and has no pain and no ill-effects from the work-out so now it is onto the next stage - a game with Australia A."

Jason Gillespie said: "It's great to have got through this assessment without any dramas and I'm really looking forward to getting back into action again.

"It's now up to me to get some overs under my belt, take some wickets, perform well and get through some games. That's the idea and I'll just take it from there."

Australia A will play two one-day matches, the first against the New Zealanders at The Gabba on Tuesday 8 January and the second one on Thursday 10 January against the South Africans at the Adelaide Oval.

Both matches are day-night and tickets are available from the usual outlets.

The matches are an ideal lead-in to this summer's VB Series for both international sides.

The VB Series gets under way when Australia takes on New Zealand in a day-night match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday 11 January. South Africa is in action for the first time, against Australia, at the same venue two days later.

After twelve qualifying matches, the top two sides will take their places in a best-of-three finals series in Melbourne (Wednesday 6 February) and Sydney (Friday 8 February and, if required, Sunday 10 February).