The ODI World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins will be rested for Australia’s white-ball tour of the United Kingdom. The reigning Allan Border medallist Mitch Marsh will captain the side instead for five one-dayers against England after leading the team during the recent T20 World Cup.
Australia will also face Scotland and England in three T20s in September before the 50-over matches commence. Cummins’s absence is part of a “pre-planned, long-term load management strategy”. The star quick Mitchell Starc and the all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will sit out the T20s, but return for the ODIs.
It is the first tour following the veteran opener David Warner’s official international retirement, with the young blaster Jake Fraser-McGurk selected in both squads. The veteran wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who performed poorly during the T20 World Cup, has been left out in favour of Josh Inglis.
West Australian young gun Cooper Connolly has been included in the T20 squad – his first national selection.
“This tour gives us a great opportunity to bring in some new players in the absence of David Warner and Matthew Wade, as well as giving some senior players time to prepare for the home summer and a busy first half of next year,” the chairman of selectors, George Bailey, said.
“We are particularly pleased to offer Cooper his first opportunity in the T20 squad having introduced the likes of Jake, Spencer [Johnson], Xavier [Bartlett] and Aaron [Hardie] in the past 12 months. They are exciting prospects to join the likes of Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis and Josh Inglis in the white ball setup.
“With the Champions Trophy on our doorstep early next year, the white ball series against Pakistan leading into the summer and a huge home Test series against India there has been a lot of planning invested into these next six months.
“That has included gradual integration of new players into our white ball squads who have earned international opportunities via excellent form in Big Bash or state cricket.”
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Australia T20 squad: Mitch Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Australia ODI squad: Mitch Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.