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29-Aug-2009 02:54:00 GMT
Eng v Aus, 1st Twenty20, Manchester

Nannes Goes in Search of Special Double

London: Australia's tour of England enters its closing stages with the first of two Twenty20 matches at Old Trafford on Sunday. 

And while many in the Australia side lick their wounds after a 2-1 Ashes series loss, for one player the Twenty20 games offer the chance to complete a notable double.

In June, Dirk Nannes was a member of the Netherlands side that dramatically defeated England in the opening match of the World Twenty20 at Lord's.

But the Victoria left-arm quick, qualified for the Netherlands through his parents, made his Australia One-Day International debut on Friday in the side that beat Scotland by 189 runs in Edinburgh.

Nannes, who took one for 20 in his seven overs against Scotland and who also runs a ski-travel company, only made his first-class debut at the relatively late age of 29 during the 2005/06 season.

The Melbourne-born quick enjoyed state success in both first-class and Twenty20 cricket, taking four for 23 as the Bushrangers won the 2008 Australian domestic Twenty20 final against Western Australia.

But Australia's selectors had still to be convinced.

However, that changed earlier this month when he was selected in the Australia squad for the Twenty20 matches against England, the second of which takes place at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Nannes admitted the call from Cricket Australia's Michael Brown made him think he was in disciplinary trouble.

"I was sitting at home and the phone rang and it was Michael Brown and he normally calls either if you're selected or you've done something wrong and I was scratching my brain to work out what I'd done wrong because I had no idea there were even Twenty20s in England, I hadn't even looked," Nannes said.

Australia are set to be led in the first half of their limited overs campaign by Michael Clarke, with regular captain Ricky Ponting having a brief break after the Ashes.

England too will have a different captain in Paul Collingwood, Test skipper Andrew Strauss having opted out of Twenty20 cricket.

England were given a scare before beating Ireland by three runs in Belfast in a One-Day International on Thursday.

"It was obviously a quick turnaround after the Ashes, (England won the series at the Oval on Sunday) let's be fair, so we are just thankful we managed to get the win," Collingwood said after a match where Joe Denly top-scored on his England debut with 67.

Many will regard the One-dayers as a sideshow following the Ashes. But don't tell that to Nannes, Hussey or Denly.


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