MELBOURNE, July 10: Fast bowler Shaun Tait, who has been battling depression and walked away from cricket in January, has been included in Australia’s 30-man preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September.

The 25-year-old, who quit all forms of cricket in January saying he was worn out from the grind and pressure of professional sport, had earlier targeted a return to the game for the beginning of Australia’s domestic season.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the inclusion of Tait, who trained with the Australian Test squad in May to work on his fitness, was an indicator of his progress since he shocked the cricket community in January when he walked away.

“Tait has been included as he continues his extensive rehabilitation program to resume playing cricket,” Hilditch said in a Cricket Australia (CA) statement on Thursday.

“Shaun had a significant impact in our World Cup victory and at his best is a formidable weapon in one-day cricket.”

Tasmanian trio Xavier Doherty, Brett Greeves and Tim Paine and Queensland’s Ryan Harris have all been included in a senior Australian squad for the first time.

The four had all earned their place in the expanded squad after successful domestic one-day performances last season, Hilditch said.

Left-arm wrist spinner Beaun Casson, who made his Test debut in the Caribbean when Stuart MacGill surprisingly retired after the second match, was not included.“Casson is unlucky to miss out after a promising start in Test cricket but needs more exposure in one-day cricket before being considered for Australian selection,” said Hilditch.

The former Australian opening batsman said the preliminary squad had been chosen to reflect the recent success of the 5-0 one-day series victory over the West Indies and the new group of players coming through domestic cricket.

“While Australia is clearly in a rebuilding phase, it was very pleasing to see the efforts of the new players in the West Indies and the manner in which the senior players have taken to the role of mentoring their development,” he added.

The squad will be trimmed to 15 in August.

Australia’s first game in Group ‘A’ of the tournament is against India in Lahore on Sept 13, before they meet Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Sept 17 and West Indies in Karachi on Sept 21.

Preliminary squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, George Bailey, Doug Bollinger, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Dan Cullen, Xavier Doherty, Brett Geeves, Ryan Harris, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Ashley Noffke, Tim Paine, Luke Ronchi, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.—Agencies