Australia’s 14-man roster for the forthcoming Twenty20 International series against New Zealand includes Marcus Stoinis. His return, together with those of Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Short, and Mitch Owen, bolsters his chances of qualifying for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka the following year.
Mitchell Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa are the members of the Australia T20 team against New Zealand.
Stoinis last played for Australia in November 2024 and hasn’t had a central or state contract in the past year.
Despite his retirement from ODIs in February of this year, he has continued to play on the international T20 circuit, playing important roles for Trent Rockets in The Hundred and Punjab Kings in the IPL, both of which advanced to the finals.
Cameron Green, Tim David, and Owen are all fighting for the same middle-order all-rounder slots, so Stoinis will have strong competition if he wants to make the World Cup squad. In order to focus on Sheffield Shield cricket in advance of the home Ashes, Green will forego the New Zealand series. Owen rejoins the team after suffering a concussion that kept him out of the final Twenty20 International and the ODI series against South Africa.
Prior to the July West Indies series, Matthew Short suffered a side strain during training in Jamaica, although he has since healed. Aaron Hardie and Alex Carey leave the game after replacing them due to injuries against South Africa. Due to paternity leave, Nathan Ellis will miss the six-day tour.
Additionally, Australia will be without Pat Cummins, who is battling to recover from a back ailment and make it to the Ashes in time, and Mitchell Starc, who has retired from Twenty20 Internationals.
Mount Maunganui will host the three Twenty20 Internationals on October 1, 3, and 4.
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