Australia reveal T20 squad

Canberra: Australia’s road to the T20 World Cup begins with backto-back three-match home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Steve Smith will play his first T20 international in more than threeand-a-half years later this month after being picked in Australia’s T20 squad for Australia back-toback three-game series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Smith will be joined by fellow Ashes heroes David Warner, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc as Australia named a 14-man squad for the twin series that will begins on October 27 in Adelaide, captained by Aaron Finch. Australia axed all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and overlooked bighitting batsmen Chris Lynn and D’Arcy Short in the biggest shocks, while spinner Nathan Lyon was unable to force his way into the shortest format, with Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa preferred by selectors.

Towering Queenslander Billy Stanlake returns to the T20 squad with selectors keeping one eye firmly on next year’s T20 World Cup that will be played in Australia.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Cummins will share the vicecaptaincy, while the series sees a return to Australia’s T20 squad for Warner and Smith – who is expected to bat at No.3 behind the openers.

Warner last played a T20 international February 2018 when he captained a side that won a series in New Zealand before he jetted off to the ill-fated South African tour. Smith last played a T20 international in Mohali in March 2016, when Australia was knocked out of that year’s World T20 tournament.

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Gillette T20 Internationals v Sri Lanka

First T20: October 27, Adelaide Oval; Second T20: October 30, Gabba; Third T20: November 1, MCG; Gillette T20 Internationals v Pakistan

First T20: November 3, SCG; Second T20: November 5, Manuka Oval; Third T20: November 8, Perth Stadium.-AAP