Australia has announced its squad for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA, with former captain Steve Smith missing out on selection. The 34-year-old’s exclusion was due to a poor run of form against New Zealand in February, where he scored just 11 and 4. Promising batter Jake Fraser-McGurk was also left out of the side.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh will captain the team, with veteran opening batter David Warner selected for what could be his last international tournament. Selection chief George Bailey emphasized the importance of having the best chance of success in the campaign when determining the final 15 players.
Bailey revealed that there were extensive discussions about including Smith in the squad and expressed interest in Fraser-McGurk’s performance, as the 22-year-old has been in top form for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. The 15-man squad includes experienced players like Test captain Pat Cummins, fast bowler Mitchell Starc, and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, with 11 players from Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup-winning team.
Other players in the squad are Ashton Agar, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade