Australian World T20 squad sees major reshuffle
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 08: Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh of Australia look on at Luke Ronchi of the Black Caps after referring a decision during the 3rd One Day International cricket match between the New Zealand Black Caps and Australia at Seddon Park on February 8, 2016 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
THERE is set to be three Australian debutants at the World T20 after Peter Nevill, Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa were all named in the squad.
The Australian 15-man team has been dramatically reshuffled with Steven Smith replacing Aaron Finch as captain, despite Finch being named in the touring party.
Recent t20 picks such as Matthew Wade, Cameron Boyce, Nathan Lyon and Travis Head have all missed out with Cameron Bancroft’s inclusion for the last t20 against seemingly a one-off experiment.
Australia’s chairman of selector Rod Marsh said: “Aaron Finch has done a very good job captaining Australia in t20 cricket.”He will have benefited enormously from the leadership opportunity and will remain a highly-respected leader within the Australian squad.
“However since he became t20 captain, there has been a broader leadership transition in Test and one-day international cricket with Michael Clarke retiring and Steve Smith assuming the captaincy in Test and one-day cricket.
“We think now is the right time for Steve to lead Australia in all three forms of the game as it offers us important continuity, not only ahead of the World T20, but beyond that tournament as well.”
Australia squad for ICC World Twenty20: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner (vice-captain), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, James Faulkner, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill (wk), Andrew Tye, Shane Watson, Adam Zampa