By Tom Jeffreys
Cricket Australia have released the two squads as they prepare for three-match t20 series vs Scotland and England, followed by a five-match series against the latter in September.
T20 Squad:
Mitchell Marsh continues his captaincy of the t20 squad despite Australia’s super eight exit last month, as Australia select a green squad to travel to Scotland for their first match of three on the 4th of September.
Of the 15 players picked for the World Cup in India, nine retain their spots in this squad of 14. It is reported that Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc are being rested ahead of the ODI series as priorities turn towards the 2025 Champions Trophy, whilst Pat Cummins is rested for the whole tour altogether.
Meanwhile, the remaining three World Cup players missing out are David Warner (retirement), Ashton Agar and Matthew Wade.
In their place, there are call-ups for fast bowlers Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett, and all-rounder Aaron Hardie having missed out on selection for India.
Jake Fraser-McGurk is also called up having missed out on the World Cup action despite travelling as a reserve, he will be hoping his career t20 average of 22.86 can be improved to reflect his explosive talents.
Talent is evident elsewhere with the final call-up, Cooper Connolly. The all-rounder is picked for his first international call up having captained the u19s at the 2022 World Cup – he arrives as the centre of considerable Australian optimism, especially after his key role in the Scorchers winning the 2023 Big Bash.
Full squad:
Mitchell Marsh (Perth Scorchers/Fremantle Cricket Club) (c)
Xavier Bartlett (Brisbane Heat/Gold Coast District Cricket Club)
Cooper Connolly (Perth Scorchers/Scarborough Cricket Club)
Tim David (Hobart Hurricanes/Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club)
Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes/ Lindisfarne Cricket Club)
Jake Fraser-McGurk (Melbourne Renegades/West Torrens Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Aaron Hardie (Perth Scorchers/Willetton Cricket Club)
Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)
Travis Head (Adelaide Strikers/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Spencer Johnson (Brisbane Heat/West Torrens Cricket Club)
Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars/Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club)
Adam Zampa (Melbourne Renegades/Sutherland Cricket Club)
ODI Squad:
The two haven’t played an ODI series vs each other since Australia made the most of England’s post T20 World Cup winning hangover in November 2022, and some of the standouts from that series will make the trip.
Travis Head scored 152 in the third match, whilst Adam Zampa took 11 wickets across the three matches. Mitch Marsh will lead the team out, whilst the likes of Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Josh Hazlewood return following last year’s Ashes.
Fraser McGurk also retains a place for the ODI World Champions, the opener the freshest face in a squad without any new call ups.
George Bailey, the chair of men’s selectors, said “This tour gives us a great opportunity to bring in some new players in the absence of David Warner and Matthew Wade, as well as giving some senior players time to prepare for the home summer and a busy first half of next year.
“We are particularly pleased to offer Cooper his first opportunity in the T20 squad having introduced the likes of Jake, Spencer, Xavier and Aaron in the past 12 months.
“They are exciting prospects to join the likes of Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis and Josh Inglis in the white ball setup.
“With the Champions Trophy on our doorstep early next year, the white ball series against Pakistan leading into the summer and a huge home Test series against India there has been a lot of planning invested into these next six months.
“That has included gradual integration of new players into our white ball squads who have earned international opportunities via excellent form in Big Bash or State cricket.”
Full squad:
Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club) (c)
Sean Abbott (NSW/Parramatta District Cricket Club)
Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Nathan Ellis (TAS/ Lindisfarne Cricket Club)
Jake Fraser-McGurk (SA/West Torrens Cricket Club)
Aaron Hardie (WA/Willetton Cricket Club)
Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)
Glenn Maxwell (VIC/Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club)
Matthew Short ((VIC/Northcote Cricket Club)
Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)
Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)
Adam Zampa (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)
For exclusive stories and all the detailed cricket news you need, subscribe to The Cricket Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.