Bailey gets the call

Tasmanian skipper George Bailey has been called up to the Australian one-day squad currently touring New Zealand following Michael Clarke's sudden return home.

Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday night that its vice-captain had departed the squad and returned to Australia 'for personal reasons', and has been at pains to keep those reasons confidential.

But with only 12 players remaining in New Zealand, selectors elected to call on the services of Bailey, who had been preparing for the Tigers' final game of the summer, the Sheffield Shield clash with the Bushrangers at the MCG.

He may have struggled in the final as Tasmania thumped Victoria by 110 runs at the MCG nine days ago but Bailey's fine form late in his state's successful Ford Ranger Cup campaign was enough to convince selectors to call on him.

"Due to Michael Clarke returning to Australia for personal reasons, the NSP (National Selection Panel) has today added George Bailey to the one-day squad," said NSP chairman Andrew Hilditch.

"George is having an outstanding season in all forms of the game and richly deserves this opportunity to join the Australian squad."

"George is a talented and exciting batsman and we are confident if the opportunity arises he will perform well at international level for Australia."

Bailey himself wasn't expecting to be selected by Australia before it chose its squad for the tour, telling reporters in Perth a couple of weeks ago that he thought he had 'no chance' of travelling across the Tasman.

"Maybe a ski trip at the end of the year, I quite like the South Island (and there are) beautiful wineries on the North Island but that would be about it I reckon," Bailey said when asked if he'd have any reason to be in New Zealand in March.