Michael Clarke has ruled himself out of the Champions League Twenty20
but New South Wales have still been able to name a squad with 10
international players. Simon Katich will captain the 15-man group,
which features a world-class attack of Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Nathan
Bracken, Doug Bollinger and Nathan Hauritz.

However, the absence of Clarke, who is likely to
become Australia's permanent Twenty20 captain, will disappoint the
Blues, who won Australia's domestic competition last summer. Clarke
advised New South Wales of his unavailability due to his playing
workload with the Australian team.

Brad Haddin was named but his selection is
contingent on his recovery from surgery on his finger, and he could yet
be replaced by the backup wicketkeeper Daniel Smith. The squad also
includes Australia's Twenty20 opener David Warner, the Test opener
Phillip Hughes and the young allrounder Moises Henriques, who has
played one Twenty20 international.

"The New South Wales squad has an excellent
mixture of international experience and talented youngsters," David
Gilbert, the Cricket New South Wales chief executive, said. "I am very
excited about our prospects going into a tournament that will showcase
the New South Wales team on the world stage for the first time."

New South Wales begin their tournament with pool
matches against South Africa's Eagles and also Sussex, the county side
that boasts Luke Wright, Dwayne Smith and Ed Joyce. The other
Australian team that qualified, Victoria, start off in a group with
Delhi Daredevils and the Sri Lankan domestic champions Wayamba.

New South Wales squad Simon Katich (capt), David Warner, Phillip
Hughes, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Dominic Thornely, Ben Rohrer,
Moises Henriques, Steve O'Keefe, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Aaron Bird,
Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Doug Bollinger.

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