Australia on Monday (August 7) announced an extended 18-member squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, slated to be held in India from October 5 to November 19.
Marnus Labuschagne was a notable omission in the provisional squad, which features the uncapped duo of leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and all-rounder Aaron Hardie.
Since his debut in early 2020, Labuschagne has played 30 of Australia’s 38 ODIs. He was part of the side that won a three-match series in India earlier this year.
As stated by Cricket Australia in an official release, the squad would later be trimmed to 15. As per the ICC rules, the squads must be finalised prior to September 28.
As part of the World Cup preparations, Australia will be playing a three-match ODI series against India, starting September 22. With Pat Cummins nursing a left wrist fracture, the plan for the captain is to join the ODI squad in South Africa earlier next month.
“Pat injured his left wrist diving in the field on the first day at The Oval,” Australia’s selection chair George Bailey said in a statement. “He has an undisplaced fracture of his left radius which requires six weeks rehabilitation.
“We expect him to join the squad during the South African ODI Series. We view a period of enforced rest for Pat as a positive ahead of this important World Cup campaign. There are still a number of games he could play before the World Cup which is more than enough for him to have a strong preparation.”
Bailey expressed confidence in the selected squad, highlighting their impressive track record in white-ball cricket over the past few years.
“This side has been extremely impressive for several years in limited-overs cricket. There is an enormous amount of skill and experience in the group, which you need in a World Cup" Bailey said.
Australia are slated to open their ODI World Cup campaign against India in Chennai on October 8.
Australia's initial squad for World Cup and ODI tour of South Africa and India:
Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
