Australia T20 Squad For New Zealand Tour Announced; Massive Update On Skipper For T20 World Cup 2024

Cricket Australia (CA) has announced a 15-player squad for the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand later this month. All-rounder Mitch Marsh will lead the Australia team in their final bilateral T20I assignment ahead of the much-awaited T20 World Cup 2024.

The T20I series between Australia and New Zealand is set to commence on February 21 in Wellington, with matches following on February 23 and 25 in Auckland. Following the T20I series, the two teams will compete in Tests as part of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Australia Dealing With Injury Concerns Ahead Of T20 Series

Fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitch Starc, along with batters Travis Head and Steve Smith, are set to make their return to the national team for the upcoming tour. Notably, the players were rested for the three-match T20 series against the West Indies at home.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have replaced Sean Abbott and Jason Behrendorff. Behrendorff failed to make it into the squad despite winning T20 Player of the Year at the Cricket Australia Awards 2024. Abbott won Player of the Match in the 2nd ODI against the Windies.

Matt Short suffered a hamstring injury in the second ODI against the West Indies. However, Short has been included for the upcoming series against New Zealand. Pacer Nathan Ellis, who is nearing a full recovery from a rib injury, has also been named in the squad.

Australia Tour Of New Zealand

February 21 – 1st T20I Aus vs NZ – Wellington

February 23 – 2nd T20I Aus vs NZ – Auckland

February 25 – 3rd T20I Aus vs NZ – Auckland

Australia’s T20I squad to face New Zealand: 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

We Will Fully Utilise The Opportunity – George Bailey

Chief Selector George Bailey emphasized the significance of the upcoming six T20Is against the West Indies and New Zealand. He also highlighted that they will closely monitor Australian players’ performances in the IPL ahead of the World Cup.

“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,” Bailey said, as quoted by cricket.com.au

Josh Inglis or Marsh might open alongside David Warner against the West Indies in Matt Short’s absence. Australia will have three games against New Zealand to determine Warner’s opening partner for the T20 World Cup, which is set to be played in June 2024.

Australia has struggled to establish a consistent opening partnership in T20s since Aaron Finch’s retirement after the 2022 T20 World Cup. Short and Head opened together against South Africa last August. Both batters scored fifties when Warner was absent in that series.

Also read: Aaron Finch lambasts Australian middle order ahead of the ODI series vs West Indies