All-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been named as Australia's new T20I captain as he will be leading the team in their first T20I fixtures since the retirement of Aaron Finch. Australia named a 14-member squad for a three-match T20I series against South Africa on Monday and Marsh will be leading the charge. The squad features fresh faces and a flavour of the Big Bash League with three players in line to make their debut.
Australia will be on a long road trip to South Africa and India for a multi-format series and the ODI World Cup, starting on August 30. They will take on the Proteas for three T20Is in Durban. Meanwhile, Marsh will be the new captain who will be leading the baggy green. “Marsh has been named as skipper for the South Africa series only, with Cricket Australia yet to commit to a full-time replacement for Finch, who played his final T20 International last October,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Uncapped trio in line to debut
Meanwhile, an uncapped trio is in line to make its International debut in the upcoming T20 assignments. Western Australia's Aaron Hardie, BBL's player of the tournament Matt Short and left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson have been called in for the series.
Notably, Pat Cummins is not part of the T20I series as he has been on a six-week rest for his wrist fracture. Cummins suffered a blow to his hand in the fifth Ashes Test. Moreover, Australia also named their ODI squad for the World Cup, South Africa ODIs and the India series. The five-time champions have named a strong squad for the two series and the ODI World Cup in India. In a major move, CA axed Marnus Labuschagne from the 50-over setup.
The squad named by Australia will be trimmed to a 15-member team for the World Cup. "Presenting your 18-player squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup, as well as two lead-in series against South Africa and India!" CA wrote on its Twitter account.
Australia's T20I squad for South Africa series:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Australia's ODI squad:
Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
