Selection surprise as Australia look to youth with squads announced for UK tour
With a look to the future, Australia have named ODI and T20I squads for their tour of the United Kingdom.
Australia have named new-look ODI and T20I squads to take on Scotland and England across 11 white-ball matches in September.
After two strong seasons in domestic T20 cricket, 20-year-old Cooper Connolly has raced into the T20 squad for the trip to the United Kingdom, while fellow youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk has been named in both squads as he aims to cement an opening batting spot left by recently-retired David Warner.
Mitchell Marsh will lead both squads as captain, with Pat Cummins rested for the tour as part of his long-term load management strategy ahead of the upcoming five-match home Test series with India during the Australian summer. Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell will sit out the T20I leg of the tour, before joining the team for the five ODIs against England.
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Connolly, known for his finishing exploits with the bat in death-over situations, captained Australia to a third-place finish at the 2022 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He comes in for Matthew Wade who missed out on selection as Australia look ahead to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in 2026. Spin-bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar also missed out.
National men's selection chair George Bailey believes the tour is good chance to integrate newer players into the setup.
"This tour gives us a great opportunity to bring in some new players in the absence of David Warner and Matthew Wade, as well as giving some senior players time to prepare for the home summer and a busy first half of next year," Bailey said in a statement.
"We are particularly pleased to offer Cooper his first opportunity in the T20 squad having introduced the likes of Jake (Fraser-McGurk), Spencer (Johnson), Xavier (Bartlett) and Aaron (Hardie) in the past 12 months.
"They are exciting prospects to join the likes of Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis and Josh Inglis in the white-ball setup."
Pat Cummins picked a hat-trick whereas David Warner scored an attacking fifty.
Australia's UK tour begins with the first of three T20Is against Scotland in Edinburgh on 5 September, the first men's bilateral series between the two nations.
The Australians then move south for three T20Is and five ODIs against England, beginning on 12 September.
Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Australia ODI squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
Australia Tour of the UK
September 4: First T20I v Scotland, The Grange, Edinburgh
September 6: Second T20I v Scotland, The Grange, Edinburgh
September 7: Third T20I v Scotland, The Grange, Edinburgh
September 11: First T20I v England, Rose Bowl, Southampton
September 13: Second T20I v England, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
September 15: Third T20I v England, Old Trafford Manchester
September 19: First ODI v England, Trent Bridge, Nottingham
September 21: Second ODI v England, Headingley, Leeds
September 24: Third ODI v England, Riverside, Chester-le-Street
September 27: Fourth ODI v England, Lord's, London
September 29: Fifth ODI v England, County Ground, Bristol