Australia have announced their squad that they will take to Pakistan for the group stage of the Champions Trophy, which will see big hitters from the Big Bash League return to national duty, and key pacemen also included – despite form and injury concerns.
Chair of Selectors George Bailey has claimed a need for ‘balance and experience’ was the key driving factor behind selection, keeping the same core of players from the last ODI World Cup.
The big omission is Aussie opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, whose mixed form in the recent series against Pakistan has continued in the BBL for the Renegades. Spencer Johnson and Sean Abbott have also missed the cut – despite the former impressing in the second T20 International with his first-ever five-wicket haul.
The squad instead will include a second wicketkeeper in Alex Carey returning to the side, with Josh Inglis retaining his position. The other surprise inclusion is Mitchell Marsh, dropping from the Test side due to poor form and injury concerns, the all-rounder has continued to struggle, picking up in a golden duck returning to the BBL.
Injury concerns linger around Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Both bowling stars have been named in the squad, despite Cummins (ankle) and Hazlewood (calf) nursing injuries from the India Test series and bypassing the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Bailey is confident they will be available for Australia’s first game against England on February 22 although Cummins recently had a scan on his ankle but Bailey was unsure was the results of that were.
“I want to give him a little bit of space at the back end of the Border-Gavaskar; obviously baby pending,” Bailey said.
“We’ll work through that with Pat and obviously the selection panel and the medical team … but I know he’s very keen.”
Under ICC guidelines, Australia needed to name a squad on Monday, but can change it for injuries at any time before the tournament starts.
Bailey said there was no timeline on when a final call would be made on Cummins’ fitness.
Josh Hazlewood (C) is congratulated after capturing the wicket of Joe Root of England during the ICC Champions Trophy match between England and Australia at Edgbaston on June 10, 2017 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Hazlewood will continue to recover and miss the Tests in Sri Lanka, but will return for a one-off ODI in the country following the red-ball series.
Aggressive young opener Jake Fraser-McGurk played five ODIs for Australia last year, but has been left out of the squad.
Fraser-McGurk has endured a difficult domestic season after dominating in the Indian Premier League last season.
The 22-year-old is averaging just 10.75 for the Melbourne Renegades in the current edition of the Big Bash League.
“As far as Jake goes, he’s still still very young, we know that’s going to be a journey,” Bailey said.
“The skill set is still incredibly exciting.”
Australia have not won the Champions Trophy since 2009, with India and Pakistan having triumphed in the two editions since then.
Marsh, who was recently axed from the Test squad, is Australia’s vice-captain in the one-day format, having become skipper of the T20 team. Bailey would not confirm if Marsh would captain Australia at the Champions Trophy should Cummins miss the tournament.
Veteran allrounder Marcus Stoinis, who turned down a state contract with Western Australia and doesn’t play domestic one-day cricket anymore, has also been included in Australia’s Champions Trophy squad.
Australia: Pat Cummins (capt), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
