All-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been recalled to the national set-up for next month’s pair of Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka, just one month after he was axed from the One-Day International squad.
Maxwell was overlooked for the five-match ODI series that sits at 1-1 following Sri Lanka’s 82-run win last night, but the Victorian was included as part of the 13-man squad for the T20 matches in Pallekele and Colombo.
David Warner will become the fourth man this year alone – and the 10th overall – to captain the national team in the game’s shortest format after the decision was made to send Steve Smith home early and provide the skipper with a rare opportunity to rest up physically and mentally ahead of a bumper summer of cricket.
Pace ace Mitchell Starc headlines the list of players in the squad who missed out on the ICC World T20 earlier this year, alongside Scott Boland, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Chris Lynn and Shaun Marsh.
Lynn was named BBL|05 Player of the Tournament last summer after he plundered 378 runs at a strike rate of 173.39 for the battling Brisbane Heat, however former England batsman Kevin Pietersen raised concerns around Lynn’s ability to tackle spin-friendly conditions leading into the WT20 in India.
“It is a very interesting point because this is not the kind of wicket, and the wickets you play in Australia are not the wickets you’re going to play in the T20 World Cup,” Pietesen said on the Network Ten broadcast while playing for the Melbourne Stars during a KFC BBL game. “So until he destroys a spinner on a slow turner, I’m not going to be sold on the idea.
“Hitting through the line here, (with a) big bat, (with the) ball coming on in Australia. “By all means, I’m sure you’re going to give him a go. But from experience, don’t expect miracles. That’s all I’m saying.”
Lynn is currently leading the Australia A team in their one-day quadrangular series against India A, South Africa A and the National Performance Squad in Brisbane, while Glenn Maxwell has also been plying his trade with the ‘A’ squad following his ODI omission.
“Both Chris and Glenn are dynamic players who are both capable of winning a game from their own bat and they also bring that x-factor in the field,” National Selector Rod Marsh said. Test gloveman Peter Nevill has retained his place in the T20 side, despite solid white-ball form from Matthew Wade. Nevill was the preferred option for the WT20, where he scored 18 from just five balls faced throughout the tournament and claimed two dismissals in a tidy performance behind the stumps as Australia failed to make it to the semi-finals.
“Peter is the incumbent wicketkeeper in the T20 side and had a very good World T20 for Australia,” Marsh said. “The panel wanted to keep that consistency heading into these two matches.”
Test players Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood will join Smith on the sidelines at the conclusion of the current ODI series, while Nathan Coulter-Nile has again succumbed to injury.
The Western Australian paceman was part of the touring party for the unsuccessful Test campaign, but his services were not called upon with the selection panel opting for spin twins in each contest. Back pain hindered Coulter-Nile’s preparation for the ODI series opener on Sunday, but the quick had appeared in good shape as he charged in atTuesday’s training session in Colombo before a decision was made to also send him home early.
“Nathan had been experiencing a gradual increase in lower back pain which is now preventing him from bowling at match intensity,” Bupa support team physiotherapist David Beakley said. “He will now return to Perth for further investigation which will determine the extent of the injury and possible return to play timelines.
Coulter-Nile’s spot in the ODI squad will not be replaced with Boland and Hastings already on the island nation preparing for the T20 leg, while the remainder of that squad will arrive in Colombo next Thursday.
Australia T20 squad:
David Warner (c), Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
