FINCH TO LEAD TEAM AS SELECTORS RECALL IN-FORM PLAYERS
As the Australia Test team prepare for the two Test series commencing from tomorrow at Dubai International Stadium, Cricket Australia selectors have announced a strong squad for the Pakistan-Australia three Twenty20 matches set to commence from October 24 after the Tests.
Aggressive batsmen Aaron Finch will lead the Australia’s T20 team with Mitch Marsh and Alex Carey as joint vicecaptains. Their star player Chris Lynn, who was nursing a shoulder injury, has completely recovered and has been picked into the T20 squad. Finch is the No. 1 T20 batsman in the world.
Australian team coach Justin Langer revealed that the captain and vice-captains were involved in a selection process similar to the method they followed for picking the Test team. Queenslander Lynn, who is in huge demand for Twenty20 leagues around the world, sparkled in the recent JLT One-Day Cup event.
Tasmanian batsman Ben McDermott is also in the squad following his exploits in the Big Bash T20 League. Star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been included despite not making the Test team. It is likely Test spinner Nathan Lyon may play his first T20 international since January 2016. Nathan Coulter-Nile also returns after being away from international matches owing to injury which took an year to recover. Leg spinner Adam Zampa has also won a recall.
Speaking about the captains, Langer said: “Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge Aaron, Mitch and Alex on being announced as the new captain and vice-captains of the Australian T20 squad. They are outstanding young men and extremely talented cricketers. Aaron has already captained Australia in the recent T20s we played in Zimbabwe, and I’ve been extremely impressed with his impact on the Test squad over here in the UAE. We know he’s an exceptional player, and he’s arguably the most in form T20 player in the world at the moment.”
Tremendous resilience
Elaborating on the inclusion of players who have been recalled to the team, Langer said: “Coulter-Nile has done a terrific job to come back from injury. He’s shown tremendous resilience and fight to get back into the form required to be selected in the Australian T20 side. He’s an excellent white ball bowler and provides us with another mature performer in the team. Adam Zampa’s form with the white ball here in Australia and in the overseas T20 competitions over the past 12 months have been impressive, and he’s proven he can stand up and deliver on the international stage. Ben McDermott is another young player who has been rewarded for taking his game to the next level. He’s put in the hard work to improve his strength and fitness, and there’s no doubt it’s been a key factor behind his impressive form in the JLT Cup. He’s performed well in the BBL, and he’s an outstanding young bloke.”
The first match of the T20 series will be played in Abu Dhabi on October 24 followed by the next two in Dubai on October 26 and 28.