Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been entrusted with the responsibility of captaining the national team for the upcoming white-ball tour of South Africa. This decision comes in light of injuries that have ruled out key players Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc from the tour. Furthermore, Pat Cummins, another pivotal player, is undergoing recovery for a fractured wrist sustained during the Ashes series.
Steve Smith is grappling with a tendon injury in his left wrist, necessitating about four weeks for a full recovery. On the other hand, Mitchell Starc has been contending with groin soreness since his return from the UK. While both players are anticipated to regain fitness in time for Australia's ODI series against India and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, the national selection panel has decided to adopt a cautious approach in their rehabilitation process.
With an eye on the coveted World Cup, the national selection panel is prioritizing the players' well-being and long-term fitness. George Bailey, the chair of the national selection panel, remarked, "The compacted Ashes series and the World Test Championship was a heavy load for the group, and we are taking a conservative approach to the build-up to the World Cup."
Bailey further explained that the plan involves Smith and Starc joining the squad in India, by which time they are expected to be fully fit and available for the Indian ODI series and the World Cup warm-up fixture. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins is projected to rejoin the team during the later stages of the South Africa tour.
In light of these injuries, the team composition has undergone adjustments. Ashton Turner will replace Steve Smith in the T20I squad for the South Africa tour, while Marnus Labuschagne and Spencer Johnson have been called up to fill the void left by both Smith and Starc in the ODI squad.
The forthcoming white-ball series encompasses three T20Is, followed by a five-match ODI series. The tour is scheduled to commence on August 30th in Durban and conclude on September 17th in Johannesburg. As Australia navigates these challenges, the leadership of Mitchell Marsh will be under scrutiny as he guides the team through the rigors of the South African tour.
Schedule:
30 August: First T20I, Durban
1 September: Second T20I, Durban
3 September: Third T20I, Durban
7 September: First ODI, Bloemfontein
9 September: Second ODI, Bloemfontein
12 September: Third ODI, Potchefstroom
15 September: Fourth ODI, Centurion
17 September: Fifth ODI, Johannesburg
Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa
Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa