Australian skipper Ricky Ponting will get a short break after the Ashes as the selectors have decided to rest him from the two Twenty20 games and the start of the eight-match one-day series against England.
"Ricky Ponting is having his workload managed and will return home to Australia after the fifth Test at The Oval and will miss the ODI against Scotland, the two Twenty20s and the start of the of the ODI series against England," Cricket Australia's Selection panel chief Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.
After the fifth and final Test at The Oval from August 20, Australia will play a one-dayer against Scotland on August 28 followed by a couple of Twenty20 matches against England.
The one-day series against England starts on September 4.
Michael Clarke will captain the side in the Twenty20 matches with Brad Haddin as his deputy.
"This is the last opportunity we have to give Ricky a break until next year, with the ICC Champions Trophy, ODIs against India and of course a full domestic summer against the West Indies and Pakistan to finish 2009," Hildicth said.
"The plan for him to return to Australia before rejoining the team is considered the most appropriate course of action. This gives Michael Clarke another opportunity to captain the Australian Twenty20 and ODI side," he added.
{{/usCountry}}"The plan for him to return to Australia before rejoining the team is considered the most appropriate course of action. This gives Michael Clarke another opportunity to captain the Australian Twenty20 and ODI side," he added.
{{/usCountry}}