Australia have dropped a series of surprises in their ODI and T20 squads for tours of England and Zimbabwe, with Tim Paine and Aaron Finch named as the two captains.
With the removal of former leaders Steve Smith and David Warner after the disastrous tour and ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, Cricket Australia have unveiled Paine as the ODI captain, but national selector Trevor Hohns warned the move is not yet permanent with a full-time skipper to be elected later – likely before the summer begins when Australia play three ODIs and a T20 against South Africa.
“Tim is a strong leader and will captain the side for this series, supported by Aaron. A decision on a permanent one-day captain will be made in due course,” said Hohns.
» Full Australian cricket fixtures
Following five ODI matches against England, the T20 squad will take over for the one 20-over fixture there and the following tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Pakistan, with all matches set to be played in Harare. Finch has been named captain with a shock vice-captain in Alex Carey, but there is no suggestion that move won’t be a permanent one.
The ODI squad also features Carey, who has been selected after a strong summer, particularly in the Big Bash League.
“Alex is a very smart one-day player who can also bat anywhere in the order,” said Hohns.
“With Tim in the side Alex will be the backup wicketkeeper, but we believe his game is strong enough to play as a batter only.”
Nathan Lyon also makes his return to the ODI side, while D’Arcy Short has been named to pair with Finch and replace Warner at the top of the order. The selection of Lyon, along with that of Mitchell Swepson in the T20 squad, means Adam Zampa has been dropped from both sides.
“Nathan is our number one off-spinner and has excelled with the red ball, however he is not new to white ball cricket and deserves his chance to push for World Cup selection,” said Hohns.
“England potentially have a number of left-handers in their side and we look forward to seeing what he can produce with the white ball in English conditions.
“Adam (Zampa) hasn’t performed to the level we would have liked in recent times and we see this as a good opportunity for other spinning options to press their case ahead of the Cricket World Cup.”
Joining Swepson in the T20 squad will be fellow debutant Jack Wildermuth and young Western Australian quick Jhye Richardson, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc both out of action with injury. Nic Maddinson is the other surprise inclusion just days after being cut adrift by New South Wales at domestic level.
Australia’s ODI tour of England squad
Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye
Australia T20 tour of England and Zimbabwe squad
Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth
Tour of England
| Fixture | Venue | Date | Time | Broadcast |
| England vs Australia – 1st ODI | The Oval, London | June 13 | 10pm | Fox Sports |
| England vs Australia – 2nd ODI | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | June 16 | 8pm | Fox Sports |
| England vs Australia – 3rd ODI | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | June 19 | 11pm | Fox Sports |
| England vs Australia – 4th ODI | Riverside Ground, Chester-Le-Street | June 21 | 11pm | Fox Sports |
| England vs Australia – 5th ODI | Old Trafford, Manchester | June 24 | 8pm | Fox Sports |
| England vs Australia – Only T20 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | June 28 | 3:30am | Fox Sports |
Tri-series vs Zimbabwe and Pakistan
| Fixture | Venue | Date | Time | Broadcast |
| Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Harare Sports Club | July 1 | TBC | TBC |
| Pakistan vs Australia | Harare Sports Club | July 2 | TBC | TBC |
| Australia vs Zimbabwe | Harare Sports Club | July 3 | TBC | TBC |
| Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Harare Sports Club | July 4 | TBC | TBC |
| Pakistan vs Australia | Harare Sports Club | July 5 | TBC | TBC |
| Australia vs Zimbabwe | Harare Sports Club | July 6 | TBC | TBC |
| Final | Harare Sports Club | July 8 | TBC | TBC |
jimbo
Guest
alright current form... 14, 3, 23, 5(10), 29, 0(1) my preference would always be for a specialist and with stoinis, maxwell there i dont see the point in adding another one.. but thats not how the selectors think, so if we had to have a another out and out allrounder why pick a project player who in no way deserves to be there? .. why not an established presence like christian (who is no way one of my favorite cricketers) but who is actually a form player and doing quite well in the ipl. And faulkner still has a good record in t20's despite last season We saw how well this same scenario worked out with sam heazlett...
Don Freo
Guest
How many games? 10? Against whom? Coming in with a few overs or balls left?Why not quote for his current form? Last season was outstanding. An actual all rounder. I suppose you want specialist batting numbers and specialist bowling numbers. If you do, why recommend Faulkner or Christian?
jimbo
Guest
as for marsh- his "rocket outfield arm" counts for little when he is too slow running across the turf to play him as an out fielder so why even mention that? They play him in the ring 99% of the time or at slip giving him ample opportunity to grass straightforward catches and lose games for his country...
jimbo
Guest
@ Don Freo... i am quoting Wildermuth's " While Ball" average genius... his List A statistics i.e. what he is likely to score at a given one day game is a grand total of 5.11 and in t20's its 13... his highest score in t20's is 29... id dont care what format you put him he has not had consistent run of form across either sheild, jlt or big bash that would merit an inclusion into an Australian cricket side he's coming of t20 scores of 14 and 3 .. .why would bother arguing this if you dont know what you are talking about??
Don Freo
Guest
Marsh has a rocket outfield arm. No problems with fielding. 35 is not old. Why is topping JLT averages not good enough. I think you are struggling with knowing what game is what. Why quote Wildermuth's FC average over a career. This is white ball cricket. Nonetheless, career averages are always irrelevant.17/18 form is what counts. Finally...an average of 5.11? Where do you get that from? Which List one games are they? Emotive tripe.
jimbo
Guest
ummm probably case there a list of batsmen that deserve that place before an inconsistent S Marsh who is pushing 35 and cant field...
jimbo
Guest
@ Don Freo ...yes consistently have you? If you have you would know he has a fc average of under 30.... and a list average of 5.11 Ive been and see him play live and watched him spray it everyone for 10 overs.... it was dismal and thats from someone who actually goes to shield games and barracks for qld. Not saying he wont come good one day... just that he is miles of international level, as anyone who follows cricket closely would know...
Don Freo
Guest
You should follow some cricket. Why wouldn't you select the best batsman from last season's JLT series? Because he is West Australian? Great cricket brain, anon!
Don Freo
Guest
That and the fact Marsh is the best ODI batsman in Oz. Remember last year's JLT series?
Don Freo
Guest
You must have been naughty in prison. Almost all prisoners have TVs.
Don Freo
Guest
That says more about the state of NSW cricket than it does about Oz cricket.
Don Freo
Guest
Faulkner can't even get a game for Tassie. Widermuth is a jet. He takes wicket hauls, is tight and he scores centuries. Been watching any Aussie cricket lately, Jimbo?
Stephen
Guest
Well said Paul
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Hopless selections the one thing i liked about the short version of Australia's side is that we finally had a gun T20 side but even that looks average now. The one day side is absolutely disgusting you have to open with Khawaja the short format is where he shines. Wildermuth selection is welcomed we definitely needed a proper 5th bowling option in T20 who could bat rather then a batsman who can bowl seeing as the batting line-up was emmesne. I would of liked Cummins instead of Wildermuth but he looks injured he has a very impressive batting strike rate in IPL. T20 side Short Maddinson(prefer Khawaja) Head (Why no Lynn?) Maxwell Finch Carey Agar Wildermuth Kane/Jhye/Swepson Stanlake Tye One day side Short Marsh(prefer Khawaja) Finch Paine Stoinis Maxwell Carey/Head Agar Tye Jye Richardson/Stanlake Hazelwood I dont even know what to think of the ODI side lol such a mess.
Paul
Roar Guru
again though, this is an example of CA not communicating effectively. All they had to give is provide a reason, hopefully a good one, and that would be that. I hope they at least told Khawaja why he's not touring.
anon
Roar Pro
The fear with Langer as coach is that he'd find a way to put Western Australians into the side. Certainly the case with Shaun Marsh in the ODI side. I find it unbelievable that Marsh would get a game ahead Khawaja. Putting Lyon in as spinner and Maxwell back into both sides is simply a no brainer. I always suspected that Smith and Lehmann had some grudge against Maxwell and this validates that suspicion. Maxwell probably should be given a shot at Test cricket as well.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
"I think having Short play 50 over might be risky but I will give him a shot, seems to have the ability in all domestic forms." He wasn't showing that at the back end of the Shield season & he's done very little in the IPL as well.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
The knives are out from the expert armchair selectors. Give Langer a shot
Stephen
Guest
Given how short we are in the batsman space its even more absurd that khawaja wasn't picked
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Vastly better when Sydney wasnt playing for anything.