Australia identify preliminary World Cup squad, Sangha, Hardie shock inclusions

Melbourne, Aug 7  Australia have introduced some shock picks of their 18-player squad for this 12 months’s ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup in India.

Uncapped leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and inexperienced all-rounder Aaron Hardie are the shock inclusions, with Check star Marnus Labuschagne the notable omission from Australia’s squad that will likely be decreased to fifteen gamers nearer to the beginning of the event on October 5, studies ICC.

Below ICC laws squads should be finalised previous to September 28, with Australia’s first sport at this 12 months’s World Cup coming in opposition to hosts India in Chennai on October 8.

Captain Pat Cummins will likely be racing in opposition to the clock to be match for that opening contest, after it was revealed the quick bowler picked up a fractured wrist throughout the latest Ashes collection in opposition to England.

– Commercial –

Cummins has been suggested to let the injured space relaxation for six weeks and the right-armer is hoping to return to enjoying previous to the graduation of the World Cup.

Chief selector George Bailey revealed Cummins has ‘an undisplaced fracture of his left radius which requires six weeks rehabilitation’, however believes the remaining previous to the beginning of the event will do him good.

“We view a interval of enforced relaxation for Pat as a optimistic forward of this vital World Cup marketing campaign.

“There are nonetheless quite a lot of video games he may play earlier than the World Cup which is greater than sufficient for him to have a robust preparation.”

Australia will put together for the World Cup with a five-match collection in opposition to South Africa subsequent month and the likes of Tanveer and Hardie are positive to be given the possibility to impress throughout these matches.

Whereas Tanveer has been part of earlier T20I excursions for Australia, he’s but to win a debut and might be one other spin choice alongside Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa on the spin-friendly Indian pitches sides are anticipated to come across.

Hardie is more likely to be competing with the likes of Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell for all-rounder locations in Australia’s facet in India, whereas the omission of Labuschagne is a shock because the right-hander has solely missed eight 50-over contests for his nation since debuting at the beginning of 2020.

Bailey believes the squad is effectively balanced and is assured Australia can declare a sixth World Cup title following their earlier successes in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015.

“This facet has been extraordinarily spectacular for a number of years in limited-overs cricket,” Bailey stated.

“There is a gigantic quantity of talent and expertise within the group, which you want in a World Cup.”

Australia’s preliminary World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Inexperienced, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.