Aussie sports fans get some VERY bad news just days out from the start of this year’s summer of cricket
Australia have opted to leave out all of their first-choice Test XI for the upcoming Twenty20 series against Pakistan in a move that will leave fans disappointed but ensure that the team can prepare for the blockbuster battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
After facing Pakistan in three ODIs, starting on November 4, Australia will then take on the same opposition in the shortest format of international cricket.
But the third and final T20 takes place in Hobart on November 18, just four days before the first Test against India at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Josh Inglis, uncapped at Test level, is the only member of the T20 squad, named on Monday, who is even an outside chance to be selected to face India.
The West Australian is in contention to fill the vacant red-ball opener’s spot, but Usman Khawaja’s new opening partner is more likely to be teen prodigy Sam Konstas or Nathan McSweeney.
Quicks Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson have been recalled to the white-ball squad after recovering from injuries.
Australia named the squad despite not settling on a captain for the three games.
A skipper to fill the void left by Mitch Marsh, Australia’s Test No.6, could be Inglis, Adam Zampa, or even the enigmatic Glenn Maxwell, who captains the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.
Test skipper and huge crowd drawcard Pat Cummins (pictured) won’t feature in the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan
He’ll be joined on the sidelines by just about every big star who’s a chance of making the Test side to play India, including spinner Nathan Lyon (pictured)
Big fan of Marnus Labuschagne? You won’t be able to see him in action in the shortest form of the game this year
No members of the 13-man squad have captained Australia in any format previously.
‘This group of players have all represented Australia in T20 cricket, so we look forward to them continuing to enhance their international experience throughout this series,’ chairman of selectors George Bailey said.
‘We are excited by the mix of experience combined with those closer to the start of their international journeys.
‘It is particularly encouraging to have Xavier, Spencer and Nathan back in the national set-up.
‘It’s another opportunity for them to continue to show their ability on the international stage, as they have done in the past.’
AUSTRALIAN T20 SQUAD: Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
