Australia, a team with five previous championship victories, has now made its final selection of 15 players for this year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Initially, Australia had announced a preliminary squad of 18 players for the upcoming 50-over tournament last month. However, with the tournament in India drawing closer, they have trimmed the squad down to 15 members.
Regrettably, three players – all-rounder Aaron Hardie, paceman Nathan Ellis, and emerging spinner Tanveer Sangha – did not secure a place in the ultimate squad. Instead, the selectors opted for experienced players for the majority of the final 15. Notably, even Test star Marnus Labuschagne missed out on making the journey.
Presenting your 15-player men’s provisional squad for the 2023 World Cup!
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) September 6, 2023
The final 15-player squad will be confirmed later this month 🇦🇺 #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/wO0gBbadKi
The fast bowler Pat Cummins will once again lead the team, supported by seasoned fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in handling the new ball. Sean Abbott was chosen over Ellis to serve as the backup pacer for the final spot in the squad. Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa will be the spin-bowling options.
In terms of the batting lineup, there were minimal surprises. It is anticipated that David Warner, Steve Smith, and Travis Head will be utilized in the top order, while all-rounders Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Cameron Green will bolster the batting lineup with their versatility.
The squad includes two wicketkeepers, Alex Carey and Josh Inglis, with Carey being the preferred choice due to his impressive performance in the previous World Cup held in England and Wales in 2019.
At present, Australia is in South Africa, getting ready for a five-game ODI series against the Proteas. Following this series, they will head to the subcontinent for a three-match ODI series against India later this month.
In preparation for the World Cup, they will have additional training opportunities through official warm-up matches against the Netherlands and Pakistan. Their inaugural match in this year’s tournament is slated to take place in Chennai on October 8th against the host nation, India.
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