The chance to play for Australia again in the biggest baseball event ever has lured former Wilwaukee Brewers Major League All-Star catcher David Nilsson out of retirement

Nilsson, 36, will captain the Australia team at the World Baseball Classic in March which will see, for the first time, the best players from the American major leagues competing for their countries in an international tournament

However, Nilsson's comeback won't be shortlived, with the ex-Brewers star committed to leading the Australia Olympic baseball team at the 2008 Beijing Games

"I still have plans to be a part of the Olympic program for the 2008 Beijing Games" Nilsson said
"I still consider my role as captain of the national team active
But without a doubt just being a part of the Classic is going to be fantastic
Obviously the Classic is a big event and obviously it's going to be the best baseball event ever held"

After eight seasons in the majors with the Brewers, Nilsson prematurely retired from professional baseball in 1999 but remained involved with the national program playing in the 2000 Sydney Games and Athens 2004 where the big-hitting right-hander led Australia to an historic Olympic Silver Medal

His motivation to step up to the plate at the World Baseball Classic wasn't simply to prove himself against the best ball players in the world

"[Coming out of retirement] I think it wasn't so much wanting to play against the best players, I did that for so long, it's more just wanting to be a part of the event" Nilsson said
"If I wanted to play at that level I think I could get a contract tomorrow if I wanted to - it's just not what I choose to do"