CHN - Donewald trims down roster for Australia series

BEIJING (2011 FIBA Asia Championship) - China’s national team coach Bob Donewald Jr has announced a cut of seven players to be left off the roster as the team continues its preparations to host the FIBA Asia Championship with an exhibition series against Australia.

Donewald (pictured) has announced a roster of 20 players, which includes Yao Ming, although the Houston Rockets star is virtually ruled out of action for the rest of the year, nursing a stress fracture in his left ankle.

Also included in the roster is Yi Jianlian - currently in private professional training in the US - and young sensation Guo Ailun who will spearhead China's U19 team for the 2011 FIBA World U19 Championship to be held in Latvia from 30 June to 10 July.

As a result, only 16 players will make the Australia trip.

China are scheduled to play five-time Australian NBL champions Perth Wildcats in a practice game before taking on the Australian national team in two exhibition games in Perth on Thursday and Singapore on Saturday.

Talks are ongoing between the two national federations to turn the two-game series into an annual event.

China team for tour of Australia: Liu Wei, Yu Shulong, Xirilijiang, Wang Shipeng, Zhang Qingpeng, Zhang Bo, Sun Yue, Zhu Fangyu, Ding Jinhui, Zhou Peng, Yi Li, Wang Lei, Mo Ke, Wang Zhizhi, Su Wei, Zhang Zhaoxu. Players left off initial roster: Han Shuo, Peng Fei, Dong Hanlin, Liu Ziqiu, Duan Jiangpeng, Zhang Kai, Zhang Songtao.

FIBA Asia