Australia’s star cricketers Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc have been ruled out of the upcoming limited-overs two-format series due to injuries.
Marnus Labuchen and Aston Turner have been called up for the T20I series instead of Batter Smith. Pacer Spencer Johnson who is in the T20 squad has got a chance to replace pacer Starc in the ODI team.
Cricket Australia (CA) announced the preliminary squad for the World Cup on August 7. Australia was also selected as the initial World Cup squad to tour South Africa and India. Besides, Ajira also announced a separate team for the T20 series against South Africa.
Labuschenne did not have a chance in the initial team of the World Cup. Labuschenne returned to the team after Smith’s wrist injury. He is getting a chance to prove himself in South Africa tour. Labuschagne has been a regular in Australia’s ODI squad since his debut in 2020, but was dropped due to recent form.
Australia does not want to take any risk with Smith-Starc ahead of the World Cup. Chief selector George Bailey said, ‘The Ashes and World Test Championship matches put a lot of pressure on the team. That is why we are proceeding cautiously before the World Cup.’
Australia will start a three-match T20I series against South Africa in Durban from August 30. After the T20, the two teams will play a five-match ODI series from September 7.
T20 Team vs South Africa:
Mitchell Marsh (captain), Shaun Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardy, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Ashton Turner, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa.
ODI squad against South Africa:
Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Aston Agger, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Greene, Aaron Hardy, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanvir Sangha, Marnus Labuschagne, Spencer Johnson, Marcus Stoinis , David Warner and Adam Zampa.
(18 August/MM)