Australia rest all Test stars for T20 series against Pakistan

Australia has named an understrength squad for next month’s T20 series against Pakistan, with eyes firmly set on the Border-Gavaskar series.

Australia will need a new captain for next month’s Twenty20 series against Pakistan with all Test incumbents set to be rested.

The Cricket Australia board must tick off any captaincy appointment, meaning national selectors have named a squad without a skipper.

Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie and Matt Short are all options to take over as T20 captain for the three-match series given their Big Bash League captaincy experience.

Frontline quicks Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will all miss the series, which ends just four days before the start of the Test series against India.

Mitch Marsh and Travis Head, both of whom have captained Australia in white-ball cricket this year, are also being rested ahead of the Test campaign.

Ellis, Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson all return from injury for the series.

Matthew Wade, who has stood in as captain in the past, has not been picked but will form part of Australia’s coaching panel for the white-ball series against Pakistan.

“This group of players have all represented Australia in T20 cricket, so we look forward to them continuing to enhance their international experience throughout this series. We are excited by the mix of experience combined with those closer to the start of their international journeys,” selection chair George Bailey said.

“It is particularly encouraging to have Xavier, Spencer and Nathan back in the national setup. It’s another opportunity for them to continue to show their ability on the international stage, as they have done in the past.”

Originally published as Australia rest all Test stars for T20 series against Pakistan