SYDNEY, Australia: On Tuesday, Australia named a full-strength squad for three Twenty20 mathes in New Zealand this month as they ramp up preparations for the World Cup.
Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc return but Mitchell Marsh remains captain as Australia named the squad.
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head and Steve Smith will all retun after being rested for their upcoming three-match home series against the West Indies starting in Hobart on Friday.
Chief selector George Bailey said the next six games will provide them the opportunity to start shaping what they think their 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 (Indian Premier League) immediately preceding the World Cup.”
This will be another big opportunity for all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to establish himself as a full-time captain. Marsh was named captain of Australia’s T20 team for the first time on the tour of South Africa. While Australia’s leading run-getter in the T20 World Cup, Cummins cannot be ruled out as a contender, especially after what he did with the ODI side at the 50-over World Cup in India last year.
