Mitch Marsh and David Warner won’t take on Sri Lanka in five T20s

Two batters in red-hot form have been added to Australia’s T20 squad to replace a couple of World Cup heroes.

Mitchell Marsh and David Warner won’t play in the T20 series against Sri Lanka in February (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

The need for “rejuvenation” after long periods in Covid bubbles and a packed upcoming schedule were key reasons behind World Cup heroes Mitch Marsh and David Warner being left out of the Australian squad for the upcoming T20 series against Sri Lanka.

Australian coach Justin Langer, who hasn’t been home to Western Australia for months, will also go on “planned leave” for the five match series which will feature five new players including Ashes man of the series Travis Head.

Selectors confirmed a 16-player squad for series next month which included Big Bash player of the tournament Ben McDermott and all but three members of the T20 World Cup winning group.

Both Warner, who was player of the tournament and Marsh, who was man of the match in the final victory, were left out to focus on their “preparation for Pakistan” with Australia set to tour the country in March for Tests and white-ball games.

Marsh is also racing the clock to be fit for Friday’s Big Bash final for the Perth Scorchers after injuring his hamstring, having taken his World Cup form in to the T20 competition.

“Managing staff, managing players and making sure when they are around the group they are at their absolute best and when they are around the group we can keep them there for as long as we can, that’s really important. Justin is a part of that,” national selection chairman George Bailey said on Tuesday.

“With Mitch, it was another case of working with the player … taking him through what the rest of the year looks like in terms of opportunities and trying to find time for players to get some rest, rejuvenation.”

Bailey conceded the squad was stronger than they expected, boosted by the postponement of the ODI series against New Zealand which was supposed to start this weekend.

Our Aussie men's squad to face Sri Lanka in the upcoming Dettol T20 International Series!

Andrew McDonald will act as Head Coach for the series while Justin Langer and a number of other core support staff take planned leave in preparation for the Pakistan tour 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/NJP2gdkyY7

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 25, 2022

McDermott comes in on the back of his blistering Big Bash form, and will likely open the batting with captain Aaron Finch.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood returns after missing the final four Ashes Tests with a side strain but leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson has been left out to return to Sheffield Shield cricket after spending the summer with the Test squad.

Head, McDermott, veteran all-rounder Moises Henriques and fast bowler Jhye Richardson are the additions to the squad which collected a maiden T20 World Cup trophy last November.

Bailey said members of that World Cup winning squad would play as many games through 2022 as possible to prepare for a title defence in Australia in October and November.

But opportunities for new faces will also come up.

“What we are after is specific replacements for guys should the need arise to use them in the lead up to October,” Bailey said.

“We have so much cricket but what they will do is ensure we get some opportunities in to different players to make sure we have coverage for every position.

“It was a wonderful result last year but by no means is the T20 team happy with where they are at. They are still trying to get better.

Andrew McDonald will act as head coach for the Sri Lankan Series in Langer’s absence.

AUSTRALIAN SQUAD

Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar , Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood , Travis Head , Moises Henriques , Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott , Glenn Maxwell , Jhye Richardson , Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022

February 11, SCG, 7:10pm

February 13, SCG, 7:10pm

February 15, Manuka Oval, 7:10pm

February 18, MCG, 7:10PM

February 20, MCG, 7:10PM

Originally published as Mitch Marsh and David Warner won’t take on Sri Lanka in five T20s