The band of big 4 that missed out on the T20I series against India will be welcomed back in the Australian camp. In the foreground returning to the Aussie side for the forthcoming T20I series are quartet – opener David Warner, the duo all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh, and speed gun Mitchell Starc.
Warner was rested to manage the workload and recharge his batteries ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia next month. While the injuries of Marsh (ankle), Starc (knee), and Stoinis (side strain) have been remedied to a tee accessing them entry to the team.
The series with the West Indies will get underway with two matches on October 5 (Gold Coast) and October 7 (Brisbane) as the reigning T20 World Cup champion gear up to defend their title.
Cameron Green who in the absence of Warner impressed everyone with his adroit all-round skills and stepped up to the plate alongside his skipper Aron Finch. The lanky all-rounder has been retained for the T20I series against the West Indies despite not making the cut for the T20 World Cup squad.
Pacer Kane Richardson and spin all-rounder Ashton Agar have been rested to ensure that the two players playing the World Cup are fit as a fiddle in the T20I World Cup match against New Zealand on October 22.
Australia are scheduled to play England in a two-match T20I series right before setting their World Cup campaign in motion.
Australia will also play a warm-up match against India at the Gabba on October 17.
Cricket Australia said in a statement on Wednesday that pace bowler Kane Richardson and spin-bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar won't take part in the West Indies series on the Gold Coast on Oct. 5 and at the Gabba in Brisbane two days later to ensure they are n peak shape for the World Cup.
Australia plays its first World Cup match against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 22.
“We have and are taking a cautious approach with the World Cup on the near horizon,” national selection panel chair 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," he added.
Bailey said he expects Agar and Richardson to return for the following series against England. That three-match T20 series will be held in Perth and Canberra from October 9- October 14.
Australia T20I squad for WI series: Aaron Finch (c), 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.
