Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday (February 6) announced a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc will be marking their return in the series.
They last featured for Australia in the shortest format in the 2022 World Cup. Keeping in mind that this will be their last T20I assignment before the 2024 World Cup, Australia have announced a full-strength squad.
Veteran opener, David Warner will be making his return for the national duties. He has retired from ODIs and Tests but will continue to be part of the set-up in T20Is.
Surprisingly, Mitchell Marsh has been picked as the captain for the despite Pat Cummins present in the squad.
Travis Head will be marking his return in what could be said to be his favourite format. He will strengthen that batting unit with the likes of Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, and Matt Short.
“Travis, Pat, Mitchell and Steve rejoin the squad following the series against the West Indies with Jason Behrendorff and Sean Abbott amongst the standby players from those playing the upcoming T20s,” the chairman of selectors, George Bailey said.
“The next six games will provide us the opportunity to start shaping what we think our World Cup squad will look like and potential roles within that.”
“We will also fully utilise the opportunity to monitor and watch the performances of the Australian players in the IPL immediately preceding the World Cup,” Bailey added.
The T20I series between New Zealand and Australia begins on 21st February. The first T20I, scheduled to be played on 21st Feb, will take place in Wellington at Sky Stadium. The second game is due to be played on 23rd February at Eden Park, while the final T20I is slated to take place on 25th February at Eden Park in Auckland.
Australia Squad For New Zealand T20I Series
Mitchell Marsh (c), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Post the T20I series, the two teams will lock horns with each other in a two-match Test series, starting on 29th February.
Australia recently clean-swept West Indies 3-0 in the ODI series. The T20I series begins on Friday. On the other hand, New Zealand are currently playing a Test series against South Africa. At stumps on day 3 of the first Test match, New Zealand have taken a massive 528-run lead against an understrength South African team.
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