"Our cricket is entering an exciting period. The players are all in good form and it is particularly pleasing to have so many quality all-rounders at our disposal. As always there are a couple of unlucky players and that emphasizes the excellent competition we have for places,” Sports24 quoted chief selector Mike Procter, as saying.

"I am delighted with the squad the selectors have given me. It is a team with plenty of options - great depth to the batting and plenty of bowling options. It is also an outstanding fielding unit," Coach Micky Artur said.

The squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Johan Botha (vice-captain), Yusuf Abdulla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robbie Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe.

OZ announce T-20 squad

Fast bowler Brett Lee and all-rounder Shane Watson have been included in Australia''s squad for next month''s Twenty20 world championship in England. Lee and Watson were part of a 15-man squad named on Tuesday, which also included all-rounder Andrew Symonds and explosive opener David Warner.

Lee and Watson are aiming to bowl for the first time at international level on Thursday, when Australia play Pakistan in the Twenty20 game in the United Arab Emirates. Lee has not bowled for his country since he experienced foot and ankle problems during last year''s Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

Watson played as a batsman in the five one-dayers against Pakistan, but has not bowled competitively since last November, because of stress fractures in his back.

Symonds'' inclusion is a further sign he has been welcomed back to the fold following his injury and discipline woes from last summer. Australia have plenty of bowling stocks in their squad, through Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle, who were rested from the series against Pakistan, along with Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes and spinner Nathan Hauritz.

The Twenty20 world championships from June 5-21 will serve as a warm-up before Australia''s Ashes tour of England, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.