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Cricket Australia (CA) has officially announced their men’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against India. The series is scheduled to kick off immediately after the conclusion of the ongoing ODI World Cup. The squad selection has come with notable changes and some familiar faces returning to the team.
Rest for ODI World Cup pace trio
In a strategic move, CA has decided to rest the formidable pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. These key members of the ODI World Cup squad will be sent back to Australia. Additionally, the all-round duo of Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green will also be released from the T20I squad to allow them ample preparation time for the upcoming Test summer.
Return of Steve Smith and David Warner
One of the significant highlights of the T20I squad announcement is the return of Steve Smith and David Warner. The duo had missed the South Africa tour, but they are now back in the T20 setup, strengthening Australia’s batting lineup.
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Matthew Wade named as captain
For this T20I series, the captaincy responsibilities will be shouldered by the experienced wicketkeeper-batter, Matthew Wade. The decision to appoint Wade as captain reflects his leadership abilities and prior experience leading the team. George Bailey, chief of the selection panel, expressed confidence in Wade’s captaincy, saying, “Matthew has captained the team previously, is a leader in the group, and we look forward to him taking the reins for this series. Like Mitch Marsh in the South Africa series, this is another great opportunity to further deepen our international leadership experience and depth.”
Australia squad for T20I series against India: Matthew Wade (c), Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa