Aaron Finch Melbourne/UNI: Australia on Wednesday named a new-look 18-member squad for their upcoming men's white-ball tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh, which begin next month.
Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner and Pat Cummins were not picked after they requested to not consider them for the tour for various reasons, neither was Steven Smith who is nursing an elbow injury.
In their absence, Wes Agar will be hoping to make his international debut alongside brother Ashton Agar, while Dan Christian and Jason Behrendorff will be out to play their first matches for Australia since 2017 and 2019 respectively.
Fast bowler Nathan Ellis and leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha will join the tour as travelling reserves and gain further international experience with the Australian squad.
''We are naturally disappointed not to have all players available for the Australian team at this time however the NSP (National Selection Panel) respects the decisions of those who have opted out of this tour,'' Australia selector Trevor Hohns said.
''Steve Smith was unavailable for selection due to an elbow injury and will now be able to use this time to fully recover ahead of the World Cup and home Ashes Series. Steve was disappointed to miss the tour with the decision made on medical grounds.
Hohns also mentioned that the absence of several frontline players presents opportunities for others and Australia will get the chance to test their depth ahead of this year’s ICC T20 World Cup in October.
''International tours in the time of Covid-19 undoubtedly present many additional challenges for athletes. They also present opportunities for others and, in this case, the chance to push for selection in the Australian men’s T20 World Cup squad later this year and beyond,'' he said.
''This is a great chance for these players to make a case for the World Cup and all are considered very real prospects of making that tournament by performing well across these tours,'' he added.
While the squad is missing a host of stars, it also sees the returns of Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Swepson, who all missed the white ball tour of New Zealand.
Australia's Caribbean-bound squad will leave on June 28 to play in five T20Is and three ODIs against West Indies from July 9-24. The Bangladesh tour, which is yet to be confirmed, will include five T20Is.
Australia Squad:
Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Dan Christian, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Riley Meredith, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa
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