David Warner and Mitch Marsh headline the notable omissions in Australia’s 16-man squad for a Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, while coach Justin Langer will also be absent.
Australia are hosting Sri Lanka in a five-match T20 series, with the games to be spread across the SCG, Manuka Oval and MCG on February 11-20.
There were fears that selectors could be forced to pick separate squads for those white-ball games and the ensuing three-Test series in Pakistan, which starts on March 3.
That has not transpired, although Langer is among the members of support staff set to be on leave during the T20 series.
Andrew McDonald will serve as head coach in Langer’s absence, as was the case during last year’s T20 tour of New Zealand
Warner and Marsh, who both played key roles in Australia’s T20 World Cup triumph in the UAE, will also sit out the five T20s ahead of the trip to Pakistan.
Legspinner Mitchell Swepson, who is poised to make his Test debut in Pakistan, is the other member of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad that was omitted from the squad named on Tuesday.
Fit-again paceman Josh Hazlewood is poised to return from his side strain during the T20 series, while Travis Head’s impressive red-ball form has resulted in a T20 call-up.
BBL player of the tournament Ben McDermott, Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques, and paceman Jhye Richardson have also been named in the T20 squad.
“This squad will begin preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup defence at home later this year and includes several players who have an early chance to impress,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.
“David Warner and Mitch Marsh will miss the campaign to prepare for the Pakistan tour.
“Justin Langer and a number of other core support staff will take planned leave in preparation for the Pakistan tour.”
Cricket Australia (CA) is expected to make a call on the future of Langer in coming weeks.
Langer’s current contract expires soon after the tour of Pakistan.
ead is set to be given a chance to become a three-format threat for Australia, with selectors confident his red-hot Ashes form can extend into next month’s Twenty20 series.
Head, who hasn’t played a white-ball match for Australia since 2018, was the most notable inclusion.
The left-hander first made his name as a swashbuckling batter, memorably celebrating New Year’s Eve in 2015 with an unbeaten century in 53 balls for BBL side Adelaide Strikers.
Head was rewarded with one-day and T20 debuts for Australia in the ensuing six months, only to fall out of favour long before the ODI World Cup in 2019.
Chairman of selectors George Bailey believes the time is right for Head, fresh from player-of-the-series honours in Australia’s dominant Ashes, to be given another chance in limited-overs cricket.
“It’s one of those conundrums that a number of players face, when they do get a bit of a run in one format or the other. Be that domestically or for the national side,” Bailey said.
“It quite often comes at the expense of another format.
“But Trav is a very talented cricketer across all three formats.
“He’s a quality striker of the ball.
“We’re just looking to get him involved in as much of the white-ball stuff as we can.”
Australia will host the T20 World Cup in October, while they will travel to India for the next ODI World Cup in 2023.
“He provides a little bit of flexibility,” Bailey said of Head.
“Obviously there’s not going to be a huge amount of change from that World Cup crew we had last year.
“But what we are after are really specific replacements and (providing) opportunities for guys, should the need arise to use them in the lead up to October.”
Australia’s 16-man T20 squad: Aaron Finch (capt), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Another 71 to Teague Wyllie (averaging 130 in this championship). Pakistan were the tournament faces.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Hi Don. Had to go back to an old comment to find you so I could suggest to you that you would be pleased with the under 19 performance against Pakistan and with the young boys from WA contributing to their win. Cheers
matth
Roar Guru
Has he ever opened though?
Gee
Roar Rookie
Warner should play, he will get plenty of rest in Pakistan, Sri Lanka & India. A lot of time to sit on his rear after getting out early again & again.
Gee
Roar Rookie
McDermott averages 13 in 17 T20I matches, he is lucky to be in the squad. It's a wonder fellow BBL star/ Australian turnip Henriques isn't in the squad either.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Which is the issue. Because Head playing the SL T20s will prevent him playing any Shield games scheduled before the tour; there should be at least one and probably two matches in Feb.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Need to go back and have a look at the Tests played so far, but I think all teams have played two spinners in all games, with the spinners being the ones to actually close out the matches in the second innings. But then I guess Labs/Smith could fill that role - none of the spinners have had to bowl a huge amount of overs. Indeed those two really should be bowling a bit more in the nets and then in games for these subcontinent tours; that really does open up our options re team balance.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Is Head really the “next best” in line to fill that spot of Smith no longer occupies it? Seems to me there would be a few other options of equal value to Head.
Paul
Roar Guru
Exactly. 50 over cricket is way closer to red ball cricket than T20 is to 50 overs. It's nigh on impossible to build an innings in T20, but much more possible in 50 overs. I guess 3 games of hit & giggle aren't going to hurt Head, as long as he gets back to Shield and maintains his red ball form. before Pakistan.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
3 ODIs and a T20
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Are there white ball games as well- I guess there must be.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Head is a stunning T20 batsman...and ODI/ODD batsman. He just carves attacks. He has played some memorable recent white ball innings domestically (that memorable that you've forgotten them :happy: ). I'd have him opening and captain as soon as they retire Finch.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
It even applies vice versa, when people talk about Head playing T20 thanks to his Test form. Of course that was very attacking, and I guess he had some great 50-over games early in the summer for SA. But you still have to look at how someone actually goes in T20. I remember everyone expected Michael Slater to be great at ODIs because he was such an attacking Test bat, but he never made the transition.
Paul
Roar Guru
Agreed. It really worries me when I read comments from Bailey that talk about transferable skills between formats. And what about the other guys that have done well in the Shield? Are they ignored because Bailey and co think white ball form trumps red ball runs?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Not in the Tests in Pakistan anyway.
The Bush
Roar Guru
The calendar remains very unclear. There's talk that they could play up to two Shield games before they go, but there really doesn't seem like much time. The first test starts on 3 March, so if they're not playing any warm up games, they'd still need to get there before the 1st - it's a decent flight to Pakistan, surely you'd want a few days to get acclimatised. I wouldn't be taking M Marsh unless he's played those Shield games and he performs very well. Not only do we have Green anyway, but if he injures himself, I'd rather go in with the six best batsmen and just make do with Marnus, Smith and Head for a few overs if we need them to. The selection of Head in the T20I outfit is interesting. I suspect it's succession planning for when Finch steps down at the end of the year - Cummins has made it clear he doesn't want to captain in multiple formats and it's hard to see a 33 year old Smith suddenly captaining the T20 and ODI team. This means I also expect to see Head in the ODI team again soon.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Sounds like Langer is for the boot, otherwise why is he resting now - “scheduled leave”?? There must be a few months between Pakistan and the next international series. Marsh shouldn’t even be considered for Pakistan if he’s not going to play any red ball cricket, which he has hardly done in two years. Head doesn’t have that fantastic a T20 record but probably as good a bet as anyone.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Marsh shouldn’t even be considered for Pakistan if he doesn’t play some Shield. He’s played only one/two? first class games in two years.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Exactly, it doesn’t make much sense. Why is Marsh getting a break? Or is he going to be getting some red ball cricket ahead of Pakistan? If he doesn’t have any red ball cricket, he shouldn’t be playing in Pakistan.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Jeff, we seem to be going down this road of trying to turn Test players into short game specialists . England recognised this and did concentrate on getting a competitive T20 and ODI sides. While they're Test side is fairly ordinary they are much more competitive at the the shorter game .