Cricket Australia on August 7 (Monday) announced an extended 18-member senior men's national team squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup slated to begin on October 5. Fast bowler Pat Cummins will lead the Baggy Greens in the quadrennial competition while no vice-captain has been announced. The biggest surprise, perhaps, is the axe of stylish batter Marnus Labuschagne whose World Cup dreams were shattered on Monday.
On paper, Australia looks like a destructive and well-balanced side that boasts enough firepower in every department. David Warner and Travis Head will be the likely openers while mercurial Steve Smith will be the anchor for the Baggy Greens. The squad brims with quality all-rounders as Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh have all been included in the 18-member squad.
The Aussie pace battery would be as fiery as any in the competition with captain Cummins leading the way. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis are the other out-an-out pacers named in the squad.
Adam Zampa will play a crucial role for the Baggy Greens in the Indian conditions which will offer enough assistance to the leg-spinner.
Uncapped leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and allrounder Aaron Hardie have been the surprise inclusion in the Aussie squad for the World Cup.
The Australian squad for the World Cup will be trimmed down to 15 players by September while the 18-member squad announced will feature in South Africa and India ODIs, the two series which Australia are scheduled to play before the World Cup.
Australia Squad 2023 ODI World Cup: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Australia's 2023 ODI World Cup fixtures:
October 8: vs India, Chennai (D/N)
October 13: vs South Africa, Lucknow (D/N)
October 16: vs Sri Lanka, Lucknow (D/N)
October 20: vs Pakistan, Bengaluru (D/N)
October 25: vs Netherlands, Delhi (D/N)
October 28: vs New Zealand, Dharamsala
November 4: vs England, Ahmedabad (D/N)
November 7: vs Afghanistan, Mumbai (D/N)
November 12: vs Bangladesh, Pune
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