Australia’s big guns Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc have been summoned for the Twenty20 squad for the looming away series in New Zealand.
The star quartet are among a 15-man squad named on Tuesday for the three-match series starting on February 21.
In a clear signal towards the T20 World Cup later in the year, Mitch Marsh will retain the captaincy role that he held in the mid-2023 tour of South Africa.
Cummins had been in charge before the series against the Proteas, but was rested following a heavy schedule in the Ashes and with the ultimately victorious 50-over World Cup to come.
Sean Abbott, despite his match-winning heroics in Australia’s 50-over win against West Indies last Sunday, has missed a berth – he’s on standby along with paceman Jason Behrendorff.
Abbott and Behrendorff will feature in Australia’s home T20 series against West Indies which begins in Hobart on Friday.
But chairman of selectors George Bailey said the duo will miss the New Zealand games as Australia seek to fine-tune their line-up ahead of the World Cup starting in June in the Caribbean and United States.
“The next six games will provide us the opportunity to start shaping what we think our World Cup squad will look like and potential roles within that,” Bailey said in a statement.
“We will also fully utilise the opportunity to monitor and watch the performances of the Australian players in the IPL immediately preceding the World Cup.”
Should fast bowlers Starc, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood all play in the same game, it will be the first time the pace trio have featured together in a T20 line-up since a home World Cup game against Ireland on October 31, 2022.
The Aussies will have played a dozen T20Is between that game and the first match of the NZ series.
Australia play the Black Caps on February 21 in Wellington before two games in Auckland, on February 23 and February 25.
Australia squad:
Mitchell Marsh (capt), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
Stick to fly fishing at Taupo
Ace
Roar Rookie
No argument on David being picked Don. Even reading the team again I still couldn't come to terms with the selections
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
David hasn’t performed at BBL for 2 seasons. He gets picked for IPL but has he really performed? Fraser-McGurk is lucky. He got picked on a whim after one whirlwind innings and one follow up. Way premature but one of his 2 innings for Oz, he has half-taken his chance for 18 balls. Would have been way better to persevere with Matt Short at the top.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Wow! I only just noticed David was in the side. I just assumed his international performances so far and his recent BBL batting...and his very, very poor fielding...would have had him out. So that's Warner, Stoinis, Wade, Smith and David all selected and the T20 player of the year excluded. This is, perhaps, the worst performance yet by Bailey, McDonald and Dodemaide.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Others better.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If they are going to “monitor the IPL” this year…or last year…Cam Green might catch their interest. Staggering that Stoinis, Warner and Wade are still on team lists. Smith and T20 don’t mix.
Tony
Roar Guru
I wonder if Maxy is planning any golf while in NZ?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
In or close to the Maxwell class? There is no one else in the world in Maxwell’s class. David may have performed at IPL but at international level he has been poor - id rather pick one of the most exciting young prospects in domestic cricket than pick someone that has tried and failed multiple times at international level - not to mention JFM is also a markedly better fielder than David too.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Obviously he has fotos...
Blink
Roar Rookie
But less than half as good a bat as David. David has performed in IPL where Fraser McGurk isn't at that standard just yet. There are a few Indian, Fraser McGurk types in IPL already. He has the potential but as an International he will need to be in or close to the Maxwell class.
Dingo
Roar Rookie
Really like that team Jammel
jammel
Roar Rookie
What's our genuine best T20 XI? (Like, that should actually be selected if there was a T20 WC final tomorrow....) Is Warner definitely still available for T20 internationals? 1Warner 2MShort 3Head 4MMarsh 5Maxwell 6Fraser-McGurk 7Inglis+ 8Starc 9Cummins 10Zampa 11Hazlewood (Smith CamGreen Ellis Bartlett)
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I genuinely think the biggest selection issue is Smith - how is he still in contention for t20?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Fraser-McGurk is just a way more exciting option than David.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
How can Jason Behrendorff win T20 player of the year then not get picked? Also - why Smith over someone like Fraser-McGurk?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
No idea about Smith either. Not sure what numbers you were looking at but Wade hasn't made close to 450 runs. Granted his strike rate has been good, but is he the best option along with Stoinis? Sad days if that's the case.
Dingo
Roar Rookie
Agree Ace. Time for the younger blokes who are performing to be given a game. Still not convinced about Tim David. Don’t know why he gets picked so often
Dingo
Roar Rookie
Don’t really have a problem with Wade , good bat and I’m sure he is a good bloke maybe his time is up and thought others like JFM outscored him this year. Josh Brown from the Heat would be worth a look too
Cocky
Roar Rookie
Would have been a good time to play the form T20 bowlers from The Heat to see how they worked at this level. Johnson, Bartlett and Neser main reason that Heat were so dominant. Johnson is a very exciting prospect.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Yes, another I should have mentioned Ben