Mitchell Marsh takes over as captain of the ODI team, which also features Cameron Green, Xavier Bartlett, and Lance Morris, in Pat Cummins’ absence.
Sean Abbott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly, and Aaron Hardie are not included in the team due to the returnees and a smaller roster.
The 14-player men’s teams for the T20 and ODI Series against South Africa in Darwin, Cairns, and Mackay were revealed today by the National Selection Panel (NSP).
Travis Head and Josh Hazelwood have returned to each team, while Mitchell Owen has been included in his maiden ODI squad after a good tour of the West Indies. After recovering from a slight side strain, Matt Short is back to both sides.
Morris makes his first appearance in the Australian squad since his November match against Pakistan in Perth.
With Head and Hazelwood back, the T20 team was also cut from 16 to 14, meaning Fraser-McGurk, Hardie, Connolly, and Xavier Bartlett were left off the roster for this series.
While Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc continue to prepare for the home summer, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell have announced their retirements from ODI cricket.
“Aside from the obvious results, the flexibility and depth shown in the West Indies has been a huge positive as we build towards the T20 World Cup,” stated George Bailey, chair of the selectors.
It was very encouraging to observe the bowlers’ versatility in the batting order and their capacity to bowl at various points during the innings.
Highlights were Nathan Ellis’s preparation and effort to enable him to play in all five games, as well as the debuts of Matt Kuhnemann and Mitch Owen.
“Some players are not included in the squad for this Top End series due to the smaller squad for a home series and the return of Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood, but everyone is still in the running going forward, and we feel like the whole group seized every chance.”
“As we strike a balance between providing players with more opportunities and getting ready for the Test summer, we anticipate that to continue through this series as well as the New Zealand and Indian series later this year.”
Australia’s Twenty20 International team vs South Africa:
Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, and Mitchell Marsh (c)
South Africa vs. Australia ODI team:
Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Marsh (c), and Xavier Bartlett
India
