Australia bring Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh back for white ball squads, no room for Marcus Stoinis
Australia have named their squads for the T20 and ODI series in South Africa. There’s no place for this season’s best BBL player, but selectors have moved to shake things up elsewhere.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Big Bash player of the tournament Marcus Stoinis has been labelled a “high calibre back-up” by national selectors after being snubbed for the upcoming tour of South Africa.
Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade and Mitchell Marsh were the big winners when the one-day and T20 squads for the tour of the rainbow nation were confirmed today.
Watch LIVE coverage of the best international & domestic cricket on KAYO with FOX CRICKET’s unmatched commentary line-up. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Maxwell has won back inclusion for both teams, having stepped away during T20 series against Sri Lanka last November to deal with mental health issues, before captaining the Melbourne Stars to the BBL minor premiership.
Wade could play his first ODI since October, 2017 and his first T20 since 2016 after being nominated by selectors to potentially fill a middle-order role.
Marsh hasn’t played an ODI for more than 12 months too but his sterling job for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash, as captain, has put him back on track for an international white-ball return.
Fast bowlers Jyhe Richardson and Sean Abbott have also been included in the 14-man T20 squad, while Kane Richardson retains his spot in the ODI squad after playing two of the three games in India last month.
Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns praised Maxwell but said there was no room for Stoinis, who smashed a tournament high 612 runs in the Big Bash after his national axing for a poor World Cup.
“It is fantastic to have Glenn back in both squads given his brilliant form in the middle order for the Stars along with his results with the ball. Glenn was one of the first picked in the most recent T20 team at the start of the summer, prior to his break from the game,” Hohns said.
“The same can be said for Mitch. He has been in tremendous touch with the bat for the
Scorchers since his return from injury and is now back bowling well. His performances warranted inclusion in the area he operates as a powerful middle order batsman and handy bowler.“
Jhye Richardson also returns to the T20 side from injury with his performances demanding inclusion. He is a terrific young player who has been sensational in all forms of the game; and is an extremely strong fieldsman.
“Matthew Wade is also in red hot form with the bat. He is a very strong fielder; and a great person to have in any team. He can also substitute as wicketkeeper if required.
“Marcus Stoinis is a standby player for each squad and was unlucky to miss out due to the makeup of the current top order. It is terrific to have a backup player of his calibre in such good form.
Ashton Turner was axed from both squads while Wade’s elevation cost Peter Handscomb his role as back-up keeper. D’Arcy Short was also left out after not playing a game on the recent tour of India.
Australia will play three T20s and then three ODIs in South Africa, starting on February 21.
Selectors also named Moises Henriques as captain of a Test-strength Australia A side to take on the English Lions in a four-day game at the MCG later this month.
Henriques was recently nominated by Australian coach Justin Langer as a potential Test bolter for tour of Bangladesh in the middle of the year, if he bowls more.
Concussion victim Will Pucovski was also named for the game, having been withdrawn from a Cricket Australia XI after suffering a head knock on the Gold Coast last Sunday.
“This squad is a mix of young players and those with the opportunity to press claims for inclusion in future red ball squads in what should be a strong test against a very good England Lions side under lights at the MCG,” Hohns said.