back icon

News

Smith, Warner return as Australia announce preliminary squad for Caribbean tour

article_imageNEWS
Last updated on 17 May 2021 | 05:37 AM
Follow Us
Smith, Warner return as Australia announce preliminary squad for Caribbean tour

Apart from the star players, Australia have also included three wristspinners in their set-up

Australia have named three wristspinners in their preliminary 23-man squad for the eight-match limited-overs tour of West Indies in July. They are scheduled to play five T20Is in St Lucia before flying to Barbados for three ODIs. 

The likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson and few others who returned home on Monday (May 17) after IPL 2021 was suspended indefinitely have all been named in the squad. 

"This preliminary list gives selectors a solid base from which to choose a final touring party in the coming weeks while allowing players to prepare. The Australian men's T20 squad has the ability to match it with any team in the world and the competition for places will be fierce, which is exactly what we are looking for," Trevor Horns, the national selector, said.

"The West Indies men's team has won two of the six ICC T20 World Cups played, including the most recent tournament in India and 2016, and this series will provide us with excellent preparation ahead of the 2021 edition in October and November."

The 2021 T20 World Cup is set to be played either in India or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and as a result, Australia have included Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson and Tanveer Sangha in their squad. "Mitch Swepson has been in exceptional form across all three forms of the game. His Big Bash performances with the Heat have been superb, as was his bowling for Queensland," Horns said. 

"Tanveer Sanga was extremely impressive for the Sydney Thunder and we regard him very highly. While he didn’t play in New Zealand it was a great opportunity for a young bowler to be around the group. Along with the class of Adam and Ashton we are very fortunate to have four highly capable spinners on this list."

Smith, Warner, Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who were all rested for the white-ball series in New Zealand, make their return. Alex Carey and Moises Henriques too have been brought back into the squad. In Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh and D’Arcy Short, Australia also have solid all-rounders.

"We are very fortunate to have some incredibly dynamic batsmen through the entire order who can be match-winners on any given day. Like all of our players we hope they will perform consistently, particularly as we approach the World Cup," Horns said.

"Allrounders are such a critical part of the T20 game, along with our spinners. As we have seen evolve over time having players able to give the captain more options make the team far more adaptable to all situations. We feel we have that luxury in this group."

However, Australia will be without Marnus Labuschagne who is currently in England playing for Glamorgan in the county championship. "Anyone who knows Marnus understands he would give absolutely anything to play for Australia and he is deeply upset to miss out due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. We worked through numerous options in conversations with Marnus to find a workable solution but ultimately came to the conclusion it was more practical for him to remain in the UK," said Horns.

"Had we not been in the middle of a global pandemic Marnus would be on this tour as a well-established member and important part of the one-day side. It's an unfortunate circumstance of the many challenges the world is facing right now. As it stands, Marnus has the opportunity to continue in County Cricket and T20 games with Glamorgan as we head into the World Cup and home summer."

The final squad will depart for West Indies in late June.

Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Tanveer Sangh, D’Arcy Short, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Related Article

Loader