Fast bowler Brett Lee is on course to return to the Australian team for the Twenty20 World Cup in September after being named in a preliminary 30-man squad today.
Lee, who missed the World Cup after ankle surgery earlier this year, is progressing well and hopes to be at full fitness for the inaugural 20-over competition in South Africa from September 12-24.
Lee is joined in the squad by fellow speed merchant Shaun Tait, also making good progress after surgery to remove scar tissue from his right elbow last month.
The squad contains all members of the team that won the World Cup in the Caribbean two months ago, apart from the retired Glenn McGrath.
All-rounder Luke Butterworth, the star of Tasmania's triumph in the Pura Cup final, confirmed his rating as a player of the future by winning a spot alongside promising state team-mates George Bailey and Brendan Drew.
Emerging West Australians Marcus North and Luke Ronchi also won selection alongside limited-overs specialists David Hussey and Cameron White from Victoria.
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the squad was tailored specifically to the ultra-short version of the game. It will be trimmed to 15 in a fortnight.
Australia opens its campaign against Zimbabwe in Capetown on September 12, with a match against England two days later.
The final will be played in Johannesburg on September 24.