Following the 2023 ODI World Cup, Matthew Wade will captain Australia in a five-match T20I series against India. The multi format fast bowlers and allrounders have been omitted, but David Warner, Steven Smith, and Travis Head have been included.
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, who captained Australia’s previous T20I series against South Africa, will return home after the World Cup to prepare for the home Test season, which begins on December 14 against Pakistan in Perth.
This could allow them to play the final round of Sheffield Shield matches before the BBL break, which begins on November 28, but the big three quicks have typically been content not to play a four-day match before a home Test series.
Marsh and Green are competing for the No. 6 place, with Marsh the incumbent following the conclusion of the last Ashes Test at The Oval. The selectors must decide whether to play Green in Western Australia’s Shield match against Queensland in Brisbane or rest him. Because Warner, Smith, and Head have been named to the T20 team, they are unlikely to play any red-ball cricket before the first Test in Perth.
With Marsh departing, a new stand-in captain was required, with Wade, who has previously done the role on seven occasions, including the final game of last year’s T20 World Cup while Aaron Finch was injured, taking on the responsibilities. It represents a remarkable shift in his career trajectory as he earlier stated that last year’s event in Australia could be his last.
Wade was initially overlooked for the South Africa tour as the selectors tried out fresh players, but he was eventually called up as a replacement, and chair of selectors George Bailey had earlier stated that he was in the running for this tour.
A permanent selection as Australia’s T20 captain is expected to be confirmed during the home season, with Marsh the favourite to take the post ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The rest of the squad is made up of players who played in the 3-0 triumph over South Africa, including left-arm fast Spencer Johnson, leg spinner Tanveer Sangha, and allrounder Matt Short.
“It’s an experienced squad with a mixture of players who have had their first opportunity on the international stage and that we hope will continue to develop into important players in our T20 group,” Bailey said in a statement. “Matthew has previously captained the team, is a leader in the group, and we look forward to him taking the helm for this series.” This is another fantastic opportunity to extend our overseas leadership experience and depth, as Mitch Marsh did in the South Africa series.”
Aaron Hardie of Western Australia is the only player who did not play in that series. Due to a recurrence of his calf ailment, left-arm spinner Ashton Agar was not considered.
After the ODI World Cup concludes, the focus will shift to preparations for the next T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and the United States in June 2024. Following the five games in India, Australia’s only announced fixtures before the competition are a three-match series against the West Indies and New Zealand in February.
Starc and Cummins are expected to be among the players who put their names in the bucket for a return to the IPL in order to prepare for the T20 World Cup.
The matches versus India are scheduled for November 23, 26, 28, and 1 and 3 of this year.
Australia’s T20I squad: Matthew Wade (capt), David Warner, Travis Head, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha
