Australia announce 21-member squad: The Australian cricket team will play three T20Is and as many ODIs in England next month.
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Australia and England have finally confirmed their white-ball series in England next month. Australia, who will reach England on August 24, will travel to Derby before moving to the Ageas Bowl in Southampton where they will play one intra-squad 50-over match and three T20s to prepare for the white ball tour.
Much like all other international cricket in England this summer, this series will also be played in bio-secure conditions in the absence of spectators. After playing three T20Is in Southampton on September 4, 6 and 8 respectively, both teams will travel to Manchester to play three ODIs on September 11, 13 and 16.
“We owe a significant debt of gratitude to the players, staff and administrators of Cricket Australia for their efforts in getting this tour underway. Their co-operation to ensure these matches are staged is crucial to cricket in this country. It will also provide much-needed financial aid at all levels of cricket in England and Wales as we work through the challenges in front of us.
“The rivalry between England and Australia is the pinnacle of sporting competition. The Vitality IT20s and Royal London Series will be thrilling contests and a perfect way to culminate the men’s international season in this extraordinary summer,” ECB chief executive officer Tom Harrison said in a statement.
Australia announce 21-member squad for England tour
Australia, who had earlier announced a 26-member preliminary squad for this tour, have now trimmed the squad to 21 players. The visitors are likely to announce specific squads for T20Is and ODIs upon reaching England under the captaincy of Aaron Finch.
Out of the 26 players, five players to miss the cut for the final squad are batsmen Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, D’Arcy Short, wicket-keeper batsman Ben McDermott and pacer Michael Neser.
On the contrary, the all-rounder pair of Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell have made their comeback to the national squad. While Stoinis had last played for Australia during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Maxwell’s last appearance for Australia had come during the home series against Sri Lanka last year.
The other players to make a national comeback are pacers Sean Abbott and Andrew Tye and spinner Nathan Lyon. Much like Stoinis, Lyon also hasn’t played white-ball cricket since 2019 World Cup. While the last of Abbott’s five international outings had came against Pakistan last summer, Tye hasn’t played ODIs since Australia’s disastrous tour of England in 2018.
The likes of batsman Joshua Philippe, pacer Riley Meredith and all-rounder Daniel Sams, all of whom have been doing well in the Australian domestic circuit, have received their maiden call-ups for England tour.
Australia’s 21-member squad for England tour
Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
