Australia T20I team vs New Zealand 2021: Australia have had to made as many as 11 changes to their 18-member T20I squad.
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A clash in schedule for Australia’s Test tour of South Africa and T20I tour of New Zealand has forced the Australian selectors to make as many as 11 changes to their T20I squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series.
As expected, Australia’s first-choice players have been named in the 19-member Test squad which will travel to South Africa. On the other hand, players who’ve done well in the ongoing season of the Big Bash League have been awarded with maiden call-ups and comebacks in the T20I team.
Despite his lean patch in BBL 2020-21, captain Aaron Finch has been trusted with the leadership duty. Matthew Wade, who has been dropped from the Test squad, has been named as Finch’s deputy.
In addition to Finch and Wade, the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Andrew Tye, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa have been retained in the T20I team.
Australia T20I team vs New Zealand 2021
Sydney Thunder spinner Tanveer Sangha, who has been the best spinner in BBL 10 so far with his 21 wickets coming at an average and strike rate of 16.66 and 12.4 respectively, has earned a maiden call-up. With all-rounder Ashton Agar recovering from his injury, Sangha will be the third spinning option behind Zampa and Agar.
While Sydney Sixers Josh Philippe and Hobart Hurricanes Riley Meredith have also received call-ups, the likes of D’Arcy Short, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner, Ben McDermott, Jason Benrendorff, Jhye Richardson and Kane Richardson have made their respective comebacks into the T20I team.
It is worth mentioning that Philippe is currently the second-highest run-scorer on the back of scoring 454 runs at an average and strike rate of 32.42 and 149.34 respectively. On the other hand, Jhye Richardson has so far been the highest wicket-taker with his 27 wickets coming at an average of 13.25, an economy rate of 7.08 and a strike rate of 11.2.
Australia squad for New Zealand tour – Aaron Finch (c), Matthew Wade (vc), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.
