Australia has revealed its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, aiming to secure a record-extending sixth title in the prestigious ODI tournament. Renowned as the most successful team in ODI World Cup history, Australia is eager to continue its legacy.
The squad selection leans heavily toward allrounders for the tournament hosted in India. A notable inclusion is the maiden call-up of Sean Abbott to the World Cup squad, while Marnus Labuschagne has been left out. This omission was not unexpected for Labuschagne, given his recent removal from the ODI side, which further solidified his exclusion from the World Cup contention. Labuschagne had been dropped from the ODI squad just before the five-match ODI series against South Africa.
Australia’s strategy for the World Cup centers on its array of all-rounders. The team features Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis as seam bowling all-rounders. Additionally, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, and team captain Pat Cummins contribute significantly with the bat. Glenn Maxwell adds further depth to the all-rounder category within the squad.
At present, several key players, including Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, and Mitchell Starc, are recovering from injuries and will miss the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. However, all four players are expected to return to action during the three-match ODI series against India, which precedes the ICC World Cup.
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George Bailey, the chief selector, expressed optimism about the injured players’ recovery, stating, “All are well placed to come back online in the coming weeks and potentially for selection in the upcoming series against India.” The Australian team will have the opportunity to make adjustments to its World Cup squad until the ICC-mandated deadline of September 28.
Australia’s ICC World Cup 2023 Squad:
Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Australia’s ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule:
– Warm-up match 1: September 30: vs. Netherlands, Thiruvananthapuram
– Warm-up match 2: October 3: vs. Pakistan, Hyderabad
– October 8: vs. India, Chennai
– October 12: vs. South Africa, Lucknow
– October 16: vs. Sri Lanka, Lucknow
– October 20: vs. Pakistan, Bengaluru
– October 25: vs. Netherlands, Delhi
– October 28: vs. New Zealand, Dharamsala
– November 4: vs. England, Ahmedabad
– November 7: vs. Afghanistan, Mumbai
– November 11: vs. Bangladesh, Pune
– November 15: First semi-final, Mumbai
– November 16: Second semi-final, Kolkata
– November 19: Final, Ahmedabad