Australia announce 23-member squad for West Indies tour

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Cricket Australia has announced a 23-member squad ahead of their West Indies tour that will feature 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs. The white-ball series will start on July 9 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia which will host all the T20I games before the teams move to Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados for the one-dayers. Notably, Australia's batting mainstay Marnus Labuschagne and emerging star Cameron Green will miss the tour.

While Labuschagne is currently playing the County cricket in England, Green has decided to play for Western Australia and continue working on his bowling.

Australia squad for West Indies tour: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, D'Arcy Short, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

More practical for Labuschagne to remain in the UK: CA selection chairman

Cricket Australia's selection chairman Trevor Hohns revealed that they held several conversations with Labuschagne but given that the player is currently in the UK, it would have been better for him to stay there only, amid the COVID-19 scare.

"Anyone who knows Marnus understands he would give absolutely anything to play for Australia and he is deeply upset to miss out due to circumstances beyond anyone's control," Hohns said.

"Had we not been in the middle of a global pandemic Marnus would be on this tour as a well-established member and important part of the one-day side. It's an unfortunate circumstance of the many challenges the world is facing right now.

"As it stands, Marnus has the opportunity to continue in County Cricket and T20 games with Glamorgan as we head into the World Cup and home summer," he concluded.