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Australia’s selectors have opted for Sean Abbott’s experience ahead of white-ball specialist Nathan Ellis in culling their World Cup squad from 18 to 15 for next month’s ODI tournament in India.
Ellis, young spinner Tanveer Sangha and all-rounder Aaron Hardie have been omitted after the selectors named their provisional squad which can be changed up until September 28.
Sangha impressed in his international debut when he bagged a four-wicket haul in a Twenty20 victory late last month over the Proteas.
Left-arm seamer Spencer Johnson, who is Mitchell Starc’s injury replacement for the imminent South Africa ODI series, has also been overlooked.
Australia will play five ODIs in South Africa, starting on Thursday, with three more in India as the final tune-up before their opening game against the host nation on October 8 in Chennai.
Selection panel chief George Bailey said Pat Cummins (fractured wrist), Steve Smith (wrist), Starc (groin) and Glenn Maxwell (ankle) “are on track in their return to play programs” after recent injuries.
“All are well placed to come back online in the coming weeks and potentially for selection in the upcoming series against India,” he said.
“There are eight one-day matches still to play in South Africa and India before the final squad is due to be declared. They are followed by two World Cup practice games, which offers plenty of opportunity to continue the build for the tournament.”
>>> 2023 Cricket World Cup squads
With Cummins still sidelined, T20 skipper Mitchell Marsh will also captain the side in the ODI series against South Africa, starting in Bloemfontein on Thursday.
The majority of interest in the final make-up of Australia’s ODI side will be at the top of the order, with Marsh, Warner and Travis Head all available for the South Africa series.
The latter pair impressed at home last summer against England, but when Warner was injured in India it was Marsh and Head that starred at the top.
Marsh averaged 97 in that series and went at a strike-rate of 131.08, to the point that when Warner returned for the final game it was the veteran who was moved down the order.
Mitchell Marsh. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Despite that precedent, Marsh said he expected to give up the role for the World Cup.
“I expect to bat middle order,” Marsh told AAP, declaring Warner one of the format’s greatest of all time.
“Things may change, but Davey is literally one of the GOATs of one-day cricket and white-ball cricket in general.
“We have Travis Head and Australia’s best-ever all-three-format player there, so I dare say I probably won’t be opening the batting.”
While unconvincing in Test cricket in recent years, Warner has averaged close to 50 in ODIs since his return in 2019 after his ball-tampering ban.
Marsh is in fine form, having blitzed the T20 showdowns with South Africa with scores of 92no, 79no and 15 in his first series as captain.
It comes off the back of a big Ashes series, in which he plundered a run-a-ball 118 on his return to the team for the third Test at Headingley.
(Photo by Graham Denholm – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“My approach now from Test cricket to T20 cricket won’t be too dissimilar,” Marsh said.
“Often it’s the situation of the game in Test cricket.
“There were times in Manchester where I couldn’t go out there and try and hit blokes for six and put pressure back on them. I just had to soap up deliveries.
“That is the intricacies of Test cricket. But generally my approach won’t change too much now.”
The squad can be changed up until September 28, after the ODI series against South Africa and India.
Australia’s provisional World Cup squad: Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
with AAP
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