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Cricket Australia on Tuesday, 6th February announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour. The Aussies will travel to New Zealand for a three-match T20I series, starting February 21 before locking horns in two-match Test series, later in March 2024.
Speaking of the 15-member strong side, Mitchell Marsh will continue to lead the side in the shortest format of the game, seeing the T20 World Cup 2024 ahead despite Pat Cummins being named in the side. Speaking after the squad announcement, George Bailey said that a decision on the full-time skipper in the T20Is will come after the conclusion of the series against New Zealand.
“One thing we are conscious of is Mitch hasn’t had a chance to work yet with Andrew McDonald as coach. New Zealand will be the time when Andrew jumps back in so it will be a good chance to see how those two work together,” Bailey added.
Moreover, the T20I series against New Zealand will see the return of the pace trio of Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who will make their return after last featuring in T20 setup in the 2022 T20 World Cup on home soil. Furthermore, Australia will still have a task to settle their opening combination in T20Is with Matt Short, Travis Head, David Warner, Josh Inglis and Marsh in the side.
Australia’s T20I squad for New Zealand series:
Mitchell Marsh (C), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.