Andrew Symonds has returned to the Australian side for a Twenty20 game in Brisbane on Friday against an Australian Cricketers' Association All-Stars XI led by Adam Gilchrist.

Symonds has not played for Australia since he was sent home from Darwin ahead of the ODI series against Bangladesh in September by the team's leadership group after he chose to go fishing while skipping a team meeting.

Since then, he has played in Brisbane's grade competition, for Queensland in the domestic season, and satisfied Cricket Australia about his attitude.

"He has made significant progress during his enforced layoff," Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said.

The board advised the national selection panel, headed by Andrew Hilditch, last week that Symonds had completed the "welfare process" that he was undertaking and asked them to consider him for selection.

Another player making a comeback is fast bowler Shaun Tait, who has not played for Australia since walking away from cricket in January, citing mental and physical exhaustion.

"Shaun is a dynamic bowler in all forms of the game and given his outstanding performances in interstate one-day cricket, we feel he is ideally suited to Twenty20," Hilditch said.

In the absence of Ricky Ponting, rested after a tough tour of India, Australia will be captained by Michael Clarke.

Fast bowlers Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark were also given a break while James Hopes and Nathan Bracken were not considered due to recent injuries.

Opener Matthew Hayden was included while his long-time opening partner, Justin Langer, will be part of the opposition, which also includes Simon Katich and Brad Hodge.

Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wk), Brett Geeves, Peter Siddle, Shaun Tait ACA All-Stars XI: Adam Gilchrist (capt and wk), Justin Langer, Brad Hodge, Simon Katich, Rob Quiney, Michael Dighton, Dan Marsh, Steve Magoffin, Ashley Noffke, Brendan Drew, Dan Cullen, Ryan Harris