Australia T20 World Cup squad: Mitchell Marsh to captain, spin-heavy side announced

NEW DELHI: Australian selectors have named a spin-heavy squad as the defending champions gear up for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India.The 2021 champions, announced on Thursday, have opted not to include a left-arm pacer following Mitchell Starc’s retirement from T20 Internationals.

Starc, who stepped away from the format late last year, had missed just one of the past six ICC T20 events.

The biggest surprise in the squad is Cooper Connolly, who has not featured in any of Australia’s last 12 T20 Internationals.Australia will begin their campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11, before facing Zimbabwe at the same venue on February 13. They then travel to Kandy for group-stage fixtures against Sri Lanka on February 16 and Oman on February 20.Pat Cummins’ participation in the tournament remains uncertain, with a scan on his back scheduled later this month set to determine his availability. Josh Hazlewood and Tim David, meanwhile, are both working their way back from hamstring injuries.

Under ICC regulations, teams are permitted to make changes to their squads until January 31.Australia will play a three-match T20I series against Pakistan later this month as part of their preparation.

All of Australia’s group-stage matches will be played in Sri Lanka, though the side will travel to India for at least part of the Super Eights stage should they progress.Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa