Cricket Australia on June 4 announced their 16-member T20I squad for the five-T20I series on West Indies soil next month. Mitchell Marsh has returned as captain after Josh Inglis filled in for him during home Pakistan series before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Several players from the Test squad have been rested.
Mitchell Owen who replaced an injured Glenn Maxwell in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 runners-up team has earned maiden T20I call-up. Owen was the highest run-scorer in Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25. The Hobart Hurricanes opener scored a record-breaking century in the final as well.
Few Test players rested
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann is all set to make his T20I debut as well. Travis Head is sitting out of Test series along with a few other Test players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Steve Smith continues to get sidelined despite expressing that he wants to play in T20Is.
No place for Stoinis
The notable absentee from the squad is all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who does not have a central contract anymore. Stoinis does not have any other T20 franchise commitment. But, he will be playing for Major League Cricket franchise Texas Super Kings before the T20I series opener. Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell will be seen in action for the first time since his injury during the IPL and his retirement from ODI cricket.
"We have a busy T20 schedule coming up … as we continue to refine and build a squad we think will be the right fit for the World Cup on the subcontinent," said chief selector George Bailey.
"There are a number of players outside the squad who can still force their way into the mix for those upcoming Indian series and through the Big Bash.
"The connection, role development and combinations we will have as options are growing nicely as we build towards the World Cup. It’s an exciting time in our T20 space."
The T20I series will commence on July 19 at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. The last T20I will be played on July 27 at Warner Park, St Kitts. Before the T20I series, Australia will kick-off their World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign on June 25 in the three-Test series.
Australia's T20I squad for West Indies tour -
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa
Australia's Test squad for West Indies tour -
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster