Premier Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is set to lead the 15-member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies, Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday.
Among the notable exclusions, are former Australia captain Steve Smith and Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 breakout star Jake Fraser-McGurk. Smith’s exclusion from the squad was unsurprising due to his fall down the T20 pecking order in the last few years.
Chief Selector George Bailey explained that both Smith and Fraser-McGurk were viewed as top-order players with incumbents Travis Head, David Warner, and Mitch Marsh serving as better options.
“Ultimately in that squad we’re looking to get … all 15 players on the selection table for each and every game to be able to have those discussions to structure up the way we want,” Bailey told reporters on Wednesday.
“His form’s been great of late, and that’s fantastic, but the way we’re functioning at the top of the order with the three guys we’ve had there has been really strong as well.
“I’m not sure how much work he’s done in other positions, but it certainly looks like the top of the order is where he’s best suited.
“We think we’ve got some other guys that have got some good flexibility around where they bat.
“As part of the build-up, we’ve seen some players perform in some different batting roles to cover off any eventuality.”
The 2021 T20 World Cup champions are placed alongside defending champions England, minnows Namibia, Oman and Scotland in Group B of the marquee event. They will begin their campaign against Namibia on June 6.
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa