Australia has named Mitch Marsh as the captain for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, to be held next month. This decision comes after Aaron Finch retired last year. Marsh will lead the national cricket squad, which will be missing veterans Steve Smith and up-and-coming batter Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Smith’s absence from the tournament is significant as it will be the first time since 2012 that he will miss a World Cup in the limited-overs formats. Fraser-McGurk’s impressive performance in the Indian Premier League was not enough to secure him a spot in the squad, with Travis Head and David Warner retaining their positions.
Marsh is expected to bat at No. 3 in the lineup, with Glenn Maxwell following at No. 4. Tim David is likely to play the finisher role further down the order. The chief selector, George Bailey, praised the batting options available, highlighting the flexibility in tailoring the approach to each venue and opponent.
The squad includes Matt Wade and Josh Inglis as wicketkeepers, with Ashton Agar returning as a second spinning option alongside Adam Zampa. The pace bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood will be supported by Nathan Ellis and allrounders Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, and Marsh.
Australia, the 2021 champions, will kick off their campaign against Oman on June 6 at Barbados. The full squad includes players like Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Nathan Ellis, and David Warner among others.