Cameron Green has been retained in Australia’s T20I squad for the two matches against West Indies in Queensland next week as a “cautious” approach is taken with various injuries around the squad.
However, Mitchell Marsh (ankle), Marcus Stoinis (side) and Mitchell Starc (knee) all return for the start of Australia’s final stretch into the T20 World Cup having sat out the trip to India along with David Warner who was rested from those three games.
Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar, who flew back early from India having picked up minor injuries, won’t be part of the West Indies series on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, but are expected to feature in the three matches against England which follow.
“We have and are taking a cautious approach with the World Cup on the near horizon,” national selector George Bailey said. “To have four key players return gives us the ability to take a conservative path with any minor issues and resolve those well in time for the World Cup. As such we anticipate Kane and Ashton will return for the following series against England.”
Green was the standout performer in India with two half-centuries opening the innings for the first time in his professional career. The second of those came off just 19 balls.
He is not part of the World Cup 15, but is now the frontrunner should there be the need to make any late changes, or injuries occur during the tournament.
“It’s probably opportunistic, the way that he’s coming in with the opening position with obviously Davey Warner not being here and a couple of other players in our World Cup 15,” Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said after the final match in Hyderabad.
“Fortuitous, but he’s taken that opportunity. We thought he had the skill when we did our strategy before we come over here. And he’s taken on some of the best bowlers in world cricket. You could argue Jasprit [Bumrah] is one of the best T20 bowlers ever. So to be able to do that, work your way through that situation again tonight, and do it two out of three times is very impressive and bodes well.”
Sean Abbott and Daniel Sams, who were also part of the India tour, have been retained for the West Indies matches.
Australia squad for West Indies T20Is: Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa (ESPNcricinfo)
