Australia have named a 14-member team for their upcoming five-match T20I series against India, set to kick off shortly after the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. In a surprising move, Matthew Wade has been named as the team’s captain, despite the presence of cricket veterans such as Steve Smith and David Warner.
The T20I series is scheduled to commence on November 23 and will take place in various Indian cities, including Vishakhapatnam (November 23), Thiruvananthapuram (November 26), Guwahati (November 28), Nagpur (December 1), and Hyderabad (December 3).
Several Australian players, including Steve Smith, David Warner, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis, who are already in India for the ongoing World Cup, will stay back for the T20I series.
Wade’s appointment as captain is considered interim, given that the previous T20I captain, Mitchell Marsh, has been granted a rest from the tour. Wade, who last participated in international T20 cricket during the T20 World Cup the previous year, faces a challenging task leading the Australian team in India.
Notably, prominent fast bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins have been rested for this series. Tanveer Sangha is the sole spinner in the squad, with Glenn Maxwell expected to fulfill the role of the second spinner, as he has been doing during the ongoing World Cup. Additionally, the team can rely on the spin support of Matt Short and Travis Head if necessary.
Australia squad for India T20I series
Matthew Wade (c), Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
