Australia, currently facing a challenging T20 series against India, has taken significant steps to revitalize its squad dynamics. In the latest shuffle, World Cup heroes Steve Smith and Adam Zampa have bid farewell to the Indian tour, while a host of key players, including Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, and Sean Abbott, are set to return. As the team faces a must-win situation, selectors are cycling through options to find the winning combination.
World Cup winners Steve Smith and Adam Zampa have already returned home, while Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, and Sean Abbott are set to go home after the third T20I. In their place, ‘keeper-batter Josh Phillippe and big-hitter Ben McDermott have been called in as reinforcements. The NSW pair, Ben Dwarshuis and spinner Chris Green are set to join the squad, adding depth and versatility.
Phillippe, known for his keeping-batting skills, and McDermott, a powerful hitter, have joined the squad as reinforcements for the upcoming matches.
The inclusion of Dwarshuis and Green from New South Wales will further strengthen the squad, with Green potentially making his long-awaited international debut.
As the Sydney Thunder’s full-time captain, Green brings vast experience from playing 190 T20 matches in various leagues worldwide. Green’s recent performances for the NSW Blues in domestic one-day and first-class cricket have showcased his all-round abilities.
Phillippe’s inclusion comes as his red-ball form has tapered off, providing him with an opportunity to showcase his skills in the T20 format. Labuschagne’s inclusion in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield squad has opened the door for McDermott, who now joins the T20 squad in India.
Travis Head, the sole remaining member from Australia’s victorious World Cup squad in India, delivered a player-of-the-match performance with a century in the final. Despite his outstanding ODI performance, Head has yet to feature in the T20 series, raising questions about his role in the shorter format.
The T20I series against India has not gone as planned for Australia, with defeats in the first two matches. The upcoming match in Guwahati is crucial for Australia to stay in the series, making the squad changes a strategic move.
The series began with Inglis’s impressive 47-ball century, but India chased down Australia’s 3-208 for a two-wicket win. In the second match, India piled up 4-235, keeping Australia to 9-191, highlighting Australia’s struggles in both batting and bowling.
With Australia slipping to defeat in the first two matches, the third match in Guwahati becomes crucial for Australia to stay in the series.
Updated Australia T20 squad: Matthew Wade (c), Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Chris Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Kane Richardson
November 28: Third T20, Guwahati
December 1: Fourth T20, Raipur
December 3: Fifth T20, Bengaluru
