Australia name World T20 squad

MELBOURNE: Aaron Finch has been dumped as Australia’s captain in the shortest form of the game and replaced by Test skipper Steve Smith just a month before the start of the World Twenty20.

Selectors also axed wicketkeeper Matthew Wade from the 15-man squad for the tournament in India. Test gloveman Peter Nevill, who has never played a limited-overs international, was picked instead.

Opener Finch, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, was named captain in September 2014, but only skippered the side on six occasions as Australia concentrated on other forms of the game.

Finch remains in the squad released yesterday for the tournament in India.

Smith’s elevation makes him the captain in all three formats of the game.

“We think now is the right time for Steve to lead Australia in all three forms of the game as it offers us important continuity, not only ahead of the World T20, but beyond that tournament as well,” said selectors chief Rod Marsh.

“(Finch) will have benefited enormously from the leadership opportunity, and will remain a highly-respected leader within the Australian squad.”

Wade, who had been Australia’s limited-overs wicketkeeper since Brad Haddin’s retirement from the short formats following last year’s World Cup success, paid the price for his recent patchy form behind the stumps.

Nevill had a modest output with the bat during Australia’s domestic “Big Bash” T20 tournament, but Marsh said the squad had enough batting depth to pick him on his glove work alone.

“We want Australia’s best wicket-keeper playing in this tournament, and we consider Peter Nevill to be the best in the country right now,” he said.

Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who has never played any T20 cricket, was also named in the squad along with another potential debutant in leg-spinner Adam Zampa.

The pair complement the offspin of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.