Australia name full-strength squad for New Zealand T20Is

Australia have named a full-strength 15-man squad for the three-match T20I series in New Zealand, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head and Steven Smith making their return. 

All four of them have been rested for the T20I series against West Indies, which starts in Hobart on Friday (February 9).

Mitchell Marsh will continue to the lead side, which doesn’t feature Sean Abbott and Jason Behrendorff. The selectors are yet to confirm a permanent replacement for Aaron Finch and these next few games could help Marsh become Australia’s permanent T20I skipper.

Matt Short, who suffered a low-grade hamstring injury in the second ODI against West Indies in Sydney, is expected to be fit before the New Zealand series and has been named in the squad.

Nathan Ellis is also recovering from a rib injury and will have to pass a fitness test later this week. Spencer Johnson will join the squad if he doesn’t recover on time. 

National Selection Panel chair George Bailey said: "The next six games will provide us the opportunity to start shaping what we think our World Cup squad will look like and potential roles within that.

"We will also fully utilise the opportunity to monitor and watch the performances of the Australian players in the IPL immediately preceding the World Cup."

The first T20I will be played in Wellington on February 21 before the action shifts to Auckland for the last two games (February 23 and 25). 

Squad - Mitchell Marsh (c), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.