Australia have included veteran pacer Josh Hazlewood, who missed the most part of Ashes 2021-22, for the upcoming five-match series against Sri Lanka starting February 11. Big Bash star Ben McDermott could be given an extended run at the top of Australia’s T20 batting line-up with David Warner missing.
McDermott was recently named the player of the Big Bash League 2021-22, has been the top run-getter in the tournament, having amassed 577 runs at a strike rate of 153.86. He has played two ODIs and 17 T20Is for the country and was part of the squads that toured Bangladesh and West Indies last year.
World Cup heroes David Warner and Mitchell Marsh will both miss the series ahead of the three-format tour of Pakistan that is scheduled to begin in March, while head coach Justin Langer will also take planned leave ahead of the Pakistan trip. Assistant coach Andrew McDonald will act as head coach for the Sri Lanka series.
“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 in these five matches against a quality opposition,” George Bailey, the chairman of the selection committee, said.
Travis Head, the Man of the Series in the just-concluded Ashes, and pace bowler Jhye Richardson have also earned recalls to the squad.
Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), 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
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