Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Spencer Johnson make a comeback from injury, while a fresh captain will lead Australia’s T20I squad.
Australia has named Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Spencer Johnson in their T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Pakistan. The team will be without all its Test players as they prepare for the Test series against India. The T20I series is set to run from November 14 to November 18.
Australia Looks for a New T20I Captain
With recent T20I captains Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head unavailable, and Pat Cummins resting, Australia is yet to confirm a new captain. Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Matthew Short, and Aaron Hardie have experience leading in the Big Bash League (BBL), while Josh Inglis is also seen as a strong option due to his leadership experience with the Perth Scorchers.
Players Returning from Injury
Bartlett, Ellis, and Johnson are all returning from injuries that kept them out during Australia’s tour of the UK. Johnson recently made his comeback in a domestic One-Day Cup game for South Australia. Bartlett and Ellis have taken longer to recover from their injuries but are expected to be fully fit for the Pakistan series.
Familiar Faces in the Squad
The 13-man squad features familiar names, with most players also part of the recent tour to the UK. Glenn Maxwell is back after being rested for the T20I matches during that trip. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short are likely to open the batting, similar to their roles in the ODI series preceding the T20Is.
Test Players Rested for the Pakistan Series
Since the T20I series finishes just four days before the first Test against India, none of Australia’s main Test players are included in the T20I squad. Marsh and Head are also missing the ODI series as they are on paternity leave. However, some players from the T20I squad, such as Josh Inglis and Sean Abbott, may still be considered for the Test squad after the T20Is conclude.
Changes in the Coaching Staff for T20Is
Head coach Andrew McDonald, batting coach Michael Di Venuto, and bowling coach Daniel Vettori are taking a short break ahead of the Test series. Assistant coach Andre Borovec will lead the T20I squad, just like he did during the T20I series against India last October. Former Australian batter Brad Hodge will join as an assistant coach, and Matthew Wade, who previously captained Australia’s T20I team, is also expected to join the coaching staff.
Australia’s T20I Squad vs Pakistan:
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.
