Spencer Johnson, Matthew Short, and Aaron Hardie Earn Maiden National Call-Up for White-Ball Tour
Australia has officially announced its ODI and T20 squads for the highly anticipated white-ball tour of South Africa, setting the stage for an exciting showdown ahead of this year's World Cup in India. The squads feature some fresh faces, with Spencer Johnson, Matthew Short, and Aaron Hardie securing their maiden national call-ups for the upcoming tour.
The Australian team is scheduled to engage in a series of three T20s and five ODIs against South Africa, commencing on August 30. The matches are seen as a crucial preparatory phase for the World Cup campaign, providing players the opportunity to fine-tune their skills and strategies ahead of the global tournament.
Mitchell Marsh has been entrusted with the role of T20 captaincy, making him the twelfth men's player to lead Australia in the fast-paced format. Marsh's leadership skills will undoubtedly be put to the test as he guides the team through the T20 series. Notably, Marsh could potentially assume the captaincy for the ODI side if incumbent skipper Pat Cummins fails to recover from a wrist injury sustained during the Ashes series.
Cummins' injury has been confirmed as an undisplaced fracture of his left radius, requiring a six-week period of rehabilitation. George Bailey, chair of selectors, conveyed that Cummins is expected to rejoin the squad during the South African ODI Series. This enforced rest is seen as a positive development, offering Cummins ample time to recover and prepare for the upcoming World Cup campaign.
The T20 matches will see the absence of key players such as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green, and David Warner, all of whom have been given a well-deserved rest following their recent Ashes campaign. Furthermore, Ashton Agar will also miss the 20-over fixtures as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.
In a surprising twist, Marnus Labuschagne has been omitted from the ODI squad, signaling a setback for his World Cup aspirations. Instead, the New South Wales leg-spinner, Tanveer Sangha, has earned an unexpected call-up for the 50-over matches. The young 21-year-old, who overcame a back injury that sidelined him the previous summer, is viewed as a potential long-term replacement for the current spinner, Adam Zampa.
White-ball dynamo Glenn Maxwell is set to miss the ODI matches against South Africa due to paternity leave, further reshuffling Australia's lineup for the upcoming contests.
The ODI touring party is dual-purposed, serving as an initial 18-player squad for the imminent World Cup, scheduled to kick off on October 8. Among the new faces, Spencer Johnson, with only four first-class games under his belt, has emerged as a promising talent after a standout performance with the Brisbane Heat. Johnson's left-arm pace and bounce could offer a like-for-like replacement for the injured Starc.
Matthew Short, who clinched the title of Player of the Big Bash League last season, has earned his place in the squad following an impressive campaign with the Adelaide Strikers. Aaron Hardie, fresh off a successful stint with the Perth Scorchers, completes the trio of newcomers.
George Bailey expressed his optimism regarding Marsh's expanded role in the leadership setup, stating, "Mitchell has been a senior figure in our white-ball structure, and this is an opportunity for him to enhance his leadership skills at the international level."
Bailey further praised the trio of Johnson, Short, and Hardie, highlighting their exceptional performances in the Big Bash League and emphasizing the significance of this tour as a platform for them to showcase their skills on the national stage.
As the clock ticks down to the World Cup squad announcement deadline on September 28, the upcoming ODI series against South Africa holds paramount importance in shaping Australia's final roster for the marquee event. Additionally, Australia is slated to engage in a series of ODIs against India in late September as part of their World Cup preparations, adding another layer of excitement to the upcoming cricketing calendar.
Australia’s T20 squad for South Africa tour
Mitchell Marsh
Sean Abbott
Jason Behrendorff
Tim David
Nathan Ellis
Aaron Hardie
Travis Head
Josh Inglis
Spencer Johnson
Glenn Maxwell
Matt Short
Steve Smith
Marcus Stoinis
Adam Zampa
Australian ODI squad for South Africa squad
Pat Cummins
Sean Abbott
Ashton Agar
Alex Carey
Nathan Ellis
Cameron Green
Aaron Hardie
Josh Hazlewood
Travis Head
Josh Inglis
Mitchell Marsh
Glenn Maxwell
Tanveer Sangha
Steve Smith
Mitchell Starc
Marcus Stoinis
David Warner
Adam Zampa
Australia’s white-ball tour of South Africa
August 30 – First T20I, Durban
September 1 – Second T20I, Durban
September 3 – Third T20I, Durban
September 7 – First ODI, Bloemfontein
September 9 – Second ODI, Bloemfontein
September 12 – Third ODI, Potchefstroom
September 15 – Fourth ODI, Centurion