AUS vs SA | Owen earns maiden ODI call-up in first Aussie squad since Maxwell and Smith's retirement
Australia have named 14-man T20I and ODI squads for the upcoming home series against South Africa beginning August 10. Pat Cummins continues to be rested with Mitchell Marsh set to captain, while Mitchell Owen's maiden ODI call-up will see him join the returning Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood.
Australia continue to prepare for a bumper white-ball season that will see them play 11 T20Is and six ODIs until the end of the year as they announced the contingents that will take on South Africa in an upcoming home endeavour. Mitchell Marsh, the incumbent T20I skipper, has been tasked with leading in ODIs as well, with Pat Cummins afforded further rest having already missed the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. Fellow pacer Mitchell Starc remains absent too but Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head are ready to return to action and were named in both squads announced by chief selector George Bailey on Wednesday.
The Men from Down Under last played ODIs in the Champions Trophy, where they lost to India in the semi-final prompting Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell to call time in the format. Cooper Connolly, who was handed a surprise call-up and debut at the mega event, and Jake Fraser-McGurk have also failed to make the cut while Marnus Labuschagne has retained his spot. With the matches no longer in the subcontinent, leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has been deemed surplus to requirements and 'Wild Thing' Lance Morris, touted as the fastest bowler in Australia at present, has been added to the squad instead.
Connolly and Hardie have also been ommitted from the T20I team despite featuring in the historic 5-0 clean sweep of West Indies in the Caribbean islands, while Xavier Bartlett has been afforded a chance in the ODI set-up. Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was added as last minute cover for Matthew Short, has been dropped too in lieu of the Victorian opener's return from injury. However, Bailey has put down the exclusions to squad size, as Australia look to home in on the final 15 that will make the plane to India and Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup next year in February.
"As we build towards the T20 World Cup the flexibility and depth shown in the West Indies, outside of the obvious results, has been a huge positive. The flexibility within the batting order and ability of bowlers to bowl in different stages of the innings were particularly pleasing to see. Mitch Owen and Matt Kuhnemann making their respective debuts and the preparation and work done by Nathan Ellis to allow him to play all five matches were highlights," Bailey was quoted saying by ESPN Cricinfo.
"The smaller squad for a home series, along with the return of Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood, see some players not part of the squad for this Top End series, but all remain in the frame moving forward and we feel the entire group embraced every opportunity. We expect that to continue through this series, and the New Zealand and Indian series later this year, as we balance continued opportunities for players and the preparation for the Test summer," he added.
Australia and the Proteas will play the first two T20Is in Darwin on August 10 and 12, followed by a T20I and ODI each in Carins on August 16 and 19 respectively before they head to Mackay for the final two ODIs on August 22 and 24. The series will be followed by a five-week break ahead of three T20Is in New Zealand, succeeded by three T20Is and ODIs against India at home to cap off the white-ball season.
Australia's T20I squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa
Australia's ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa
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