Australia’s lethal pacer duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have been included in the squad for AUS vs NZ T20I series set to get underway from February 21. With their eyes firmly set on T20 World Cup 2024, the ODI World Cup winners have named a full strength squad for the series against the Kiwis.
AUS vs NZ: Starc, Cummins return to T20I fold
The duo, who were a part of the ODI World Cup winning team, opted out of the T20Is against the West Indies. Steve Smith and Travis Head have also been included in the squad for the series.
The series against the Kiwis will be the final bilateral tour for the Aussies before the T20 World Cup 2024. Cummins and Starc will head to India for IPL 2024, which will be their last preparatory stage for the marquee event.
National Selection Panel chair George Bailey said: “The next six games will provide us the opportunity to start shaping what we think our World Cup squad will look like and potential roles within that.
“We will also fully utilise the opportunity to monitor and watch the performances of the Australian players in the IPL immediately preceding the World Cup.”
Australia’s T20 squad to tour New Zealand: Mitchell Marsh (c), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
