Cosgrove and Cullen on AIS list

Two of Australia’s most immediate Test prospects – Mark Cosgrove and Dan Cullen – have been included in this year’s Australia Institute of Sport (AIS) squad list. Both Cosgrove and Cullen have represented Australia at the highest level, and will spend almost five months training at the Centre of Excellence, before touring India in August.

Having departed from the tactic of choosing young and inexperienced players, the selectors have included a healthy share of established first-class players in this year’s squad list. Luke Ronchi, Aaron Heal, Brendan Drew, Ed Cowan, Luke Pomersbach and Craig Philipson are among the 16.

Teenagers Michael Hill and Philip Hughes have also been invited to the squad.

Chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch commented on the selections, saying, “We have selected these players to benefit the short-term and long-term future of Australian cricket and believe we have an even distribution of batsmen and bowlers who are all capable of playing at the next level.”

AIS squad
Mark Cosgrove (SA), Dan Cullen (SA), Ed Cowan (NSW), David Warner (NSW), Philip Hughes (NSW), Craig Philipson (Qld), Grant Sullivan (Qld), Luke Ronchi (WA), Luke Pomersbach (WA), Aaron Heal (WA), Shawn Gillies (WA), Brendan Drew (Tas), Matthew Wade (Tas), Peter Siddle (Vic), Michael Hill (Vic), Aaron Finch (Vic).

Part-time squad
Ben Hilfenhaus (Tas), Luke Butterworth (Tas), Cullen Bailey (SA), Shaun Marsh (WA), Moises Henriques (NSW), Andrew McDonald (Vic).

Development squad
James Pattinson (Vic), Kumar Sarna (Vic), James Faulkner (Tas).