Australia has named a young and relatively inexperienced squad for their Twenty20 and ODI tour of the British Isles coming up after the Ashes.
While Australia’s World Cup victory was based around veterans such as Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson, they have had to go in the another direction due to retirement and form as the team looks to rebuild after a shocking Ashes series so far.
With a five-day game still to play, plenty of that squad will be heading home after the Tests, with three uncapped players announced in the squad.
Joe Burns, Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Agar haven’t played any 50-over cricket for Australia before and are all in line for debuts.
Steve Smith will take over from Michael Clarke as captain, with old heads George Bailey and Shane Watson likely to be his go-to men on the field for advice.
Matthew Wade is the only specialist wicketkeeper in the squad, and is also the vice captain.
James Pattinson has been recalled to the international arena along with Pat Cummins, and they will work with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Coulter-Nile.
James Faulkner has not been named, with the all-rounder spots taken by Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh.
Shaun Marsh hasn’t been named, nor has opener Aaron Finch.
Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh there was a good balance of youth and experience.
“The squad we have selected has a few fresh faces in it as well as some experienced players that will provide us with the right balance,’’ he said.
“Joe has impressed us immensely over in India with Australia A. He is a very capable young batsman who has experience opening, and we think he will grab his opportunity with the white ball during this Series.
“Marcus has performed very well in India during the four-day Series and we have always liked that option of the extra all-rounder in our side, so with James Faulkner’s unavailability, this is a great opportunity for Marcus.”
“The reality is Aaron isn’t fit for selection at this stage and he also hasn’t played as much cricket as we would have liked him to following a couple of serious injuries,’’ Marsh said.
“He may look to return to Yorkshire, fitness dependent, for a few games at the end of the season as he prepares for the Matador Cup at home in October.”
Marsh said Matt Wade was the obvious choice to replace Haddin, who retired from ODI cricket after the World Cup.
“Matt has done a good job in the short form of the game in the absence of Brad Haddin in the past and now with Brad’s retirement from one-day cricket we think he will step up nicely into the position. His form with the bat during the Australia A Series and also at the start of last summer has also been very good.”
“Ashton [Agar] has performed very well with the ball since his return from shoulder surgery including taking five wickets in the recent Australia A game in India. He has played in these conditions over here before and the NSP believes he has a very bright future.”
Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood will be rested ahead of the home series later this year.
Australian limited over squad for ODI, T20 tour of England and Ireland
Steve Smith (c)
Ashton Agar
George Bailey
Joe Burns
Nathan Coulter-Nile
Patrick Cummins
Glenn Maxwell
Mitchell Marsh
James Pattinson
Mitchell Starc
Marcus Stoinis
Matthew Wade (wk)
Shane Watson
David Warner
Cameron Boyce (T20I only)
ChrisB
Guest
He's in the A tour
JimmyB
Guest
Because he's easily the most important player in the squad.
Nudge
Guest
Voges has a first class batting average of about 5 runs more than Klinger, and also has dominated county cricket. Didn't do him any good this ashes.
JimmyB
Guest
That sounds familiar, heard that before the Ashes.
dan ced
Guest
Don't mind Lynn but he reminds me of Warner a bit.. so I'm a bit scared he might fail. Should definitely get more ODI cricket. In Place of Finch maybe, who I'm not a huge fan of.
dan ced
Guest
when all the NOT 35 year olds are getting out for single figures, whilst this particular 35 year old dominates county cricket, in the conditions the current AUS team failed dismally in. It's obvious.
blanco
Guest
Marcus who?
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
But they like having a choice of all-rounders in the team, It's been like that for the past few years and without Faulkner, they probably feel a bit short of pace bowling all-rounders.
Matt from Armidale
Guest
Agree with dan, nothing per se against Agar but rubbish picking another part-time spinner in ODIs. He's had some results on the A-Tour it seems but then so has Steve O'Keefe and he's nowhere near selection. There is one clear number 1 spinner. His name is Nathan Lyon. They unfairly left him out for the world cup, blaming the fielding restrictions which have now changed. Pick him!
dt290192
Roar Rookie
I think it is pretty harsh for khawaja and sandhu to be overlooked despite performing consistently. I mean what more the selectors want them to do to earn a place and also they maxy, marsh and watson and also agar, i think it makes no sense in selecting stoinis but instead of him they should probably go for a batsman either khawaja or probably chris lynn and I think lynn should be given a chance he has a X factor and he could become 'the next big thing' of this next generation for Australia.
Bakkies
Guest
Henriques was involved in a horrific on field collision in a County game a while back
Quitwhinging
Guest
You[re gonna have to be more specific
Quitwhinging
Guest
Depends how you interpret Rod Marshs' comments, Wade may find himself back in the test squad at some point. He and Nevill seem like the only viable options at the moment
Quitwhinging
Guest
And what point is there in picking a 35 yr old? NONE
jamesb
Guest
Maybe in the Victorian side what should happen is for Wade to become a specialist batsman and for Handscomb to be given the gloves. It may benefit the careers of both players.
Lily
Guest
Doesn't M Starc deserve a rest? He bowled more than Hazlewood and Johnson this series. 4th test day 2 he bowled all morning up until lunch! And, he has an ankle problem. Still he is not being rested. I don't understand this.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Looks like a good squad for ODIs. England just need to juice up their pitches though and they'd win. That team will be no better on a proper first day test wicket than the test 11.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Awesome knock by Wade tonight. Really makes me wonder whether he's better off ditching the gloves and getting back into the test side as a batsmen. I could see him at number 5. In saying that, I will be interested to see what his keeping is like. He's pulled off a few stumpings on the 'A' tour and by all reports he's been improved over the past 12 months. One can only hope.
AREH
Roar Guru
Some points:- I thought Burns would be essentially like a Rogers or a Cowan in that mould of being a 'test only' player, obviously not but good on him for earning a place, and I say earning because I think he has done enough. Watto stays because he has been a brilliant limited overs player for a number of years and experience is useful in this very young squad regardless. Has Stoinis done enough to warrant a spot? I suppose Faulkner missing left a door open there so well done to him Wade as the only keeper in the squad; I wonder how close they were to picking say Ben Dunk or even Nevill
VivGilchrist
Guest
I'd have them both over Stoinis. Stoinis? How? Why? On what grounds? He's not even playing in the A tour. Might be a genius move or more of the same....