Smith, Warner set for Cup recall

STEVE Smith and David Warner’s year-long exile from the Australian squad will end today when they are re-contracted and named in the tour party to defend the World Cup title.

Smith and Warner are both set to feature in the 15-man squad for the England tournament, with coach Justin Langer facing bigger questions about his pace bowlers than his wider batting group.

It will mark the first time the pair have been selected since the Cape Town Test in March last year, where they copped the 12-month bans stemming over the ball sandpapering saga.

They will also return to Cricket Australia’s contracted players list, after the two biggest names were left off last year.

Australia’s World Cup squad is arguably more clear cut than their best XI for their tournament opener against Afghanistan on June 1.

Their eight-match winning streak in India and the UAE has given Australia the blueprint with which to attack the tournament.

Warner, Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja are all expected to be picked to play, despite uncertainty over which two will fill the opening role.