Kolkata Knight Riders' Mitchell Starc runs to field as Delhi Capitals' Mitchell Marsh and David Warner take run during Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in Visakhapatnam, India, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Credit: AP/Surjeet Yadav
MELBOURNE, Australia — Mitch Marsh will captain Australia at the Twenty20 World Cup next month, leading a national cricket squad that is missing veteran Steve Smith and up-and-coming batter Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Marsh was confirmed as T20 captain on Wednesday after sharing the duties on an interim basis since the retirement last year of Aaron Finch.
Smith’s omission for the tournament starting June 1 in the United States and Caribbean means it’ll be the first time since 2012 he’s missed a World Cup in the limited-overs formats.
The 34-year-old Smith has signed for the Washington Freedom for the second season of Major League Cricket in the United States which starts July 4, four days after the T20 World Cup concludes.
Fraser-McGurk surged into selection calculations on the back of his 233.33 strike rate in the Indian Premier League, but it wasn't enough to replace Travis Head or the veteran David Warner at the global tournament.
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Allrounder Marsh will likely bat at No. 3 and Glenn Maxwell at No. 4 in the lineup, with Tim David likely to fill the finisher role further down the order.
“The batting options available allow a tailored approach to each venue and opponent,” Australia's chief selector George Bailey said in a statement. "Steve Smith, Matt Short, Jason Behrendorff, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett were all part of long conversations, along with several others, including Jake Fraser-McGurk who is yet to play T20 International cricket but continues to impress and is developing rapidly.”
Australia's Steve Smith bats against the West Indies during their one day international cricket match in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 2, 2024. Australia batter Steve Smith has signed for the Washington Freedom ahead of the second season of Major League Cricket in the United States. Smith is set to link up with fellow Australian and Freedom head coach Ricky Ponting for the tournament which starts July 4, four days after the end of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and U.S. Smith said he was “super excited” to be joining the franchise. Credit: AP/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Matt Wade and Josh Inglis were picked as wicketkeepers and Ashton Agar returns to the squad as a second spinning option to Adam Zampa.
The regular pace bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will have support from Nathan Ellis as well as allrounders Cameron Green, Marsh and Marcus Stoinis.
Australia, the 2021 T20 World Cup champions, will open against Oman at Barbados on June 6. The Australians are the defending champions in the ICC's World Test Championship and in the 50-over World Cup.
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Delhi Capitals' Jake Fraser-McGurk bats during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in New Delhi, India, Saturday, April 27, 2024. Credit: AP/Surjeet Yadav
Australia squad: Mitch Marsh (captain), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
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