Australia announces squad for 2023 World Cup

Sydney: Five-time champions Australia have announced their 15-man squad for this year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Under the captaincy of Pat Cummins, the team will enter the World Cup. Last month, the selectors picked 18 players for the World Cup. Now three of these have been thrown out. However, all teams have time till September 28 to make changes to their World Cup squads.

Australia named the first 18 players for the 50-over debut last month. With less than a month to go for the start of this year’s event in India, Australia have announced their 15 players today. Australia had already announced the initial 18-man squad for the tour of South Africa. With that, he has dropped Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardy and Tanveer Sangha.

The 21-year-old Tanveer made his international debut in South Africa itself. In his very first match, he dismissed 4 batsmen. But the team already has leg-spinner Adam Jampa. For this reason the Sangha had to be thrown out. Test star Marnus Labuschagne has also missed out on the squad. Pacer Pat Cummins will once again lead the team while experienced pacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will assist him with the new ball.

While Sean Abbott has been preferred over Ellis for the last spot in the team as the backup pacer. Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa were handed the reins of the spinners. There are no surprises in Australia’s World Cup squad. Marnus Labuschagne was dropped from the earlier announced squad. Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Sean Abbott and Ashton Agar have been selected in the World Cup squad for the first time.

At the same time, this will be Steve Smith’s fourth World Cup. He is the only player in this team who was a part of the Australian squad for the 2011 World Cup. David Warner, Steve Smith and Travis Head are likely to be fielded in the top-order and all-rounders Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green are also known for their quality batting. Alex Carey and Josh Inglis are the two keepers in the team.

Carey is the first choice after a commendable performance in the last World Cup in England and Wales in 2019. Australia’s team last won the World Cup title in 2015. Prior to that, the team has been world champion for three consecutive times in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Australia won the 1987 World Cup title hosted by India.

Australia’s World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.