The uncapped trio of Daniel Sams, Riley Meredith, and Josh Philippe are among a preliminary list of 26 players named by national selections today as the Australian men’s team aims to return to action on the field.
Australia’s next order remains to be confirmed, although Cricket Australia and the England & Wales Cricket Board are discussing a limited overs series in the UK in September.
With this in mind, the selectors have identified 26 players of interest, a large group that will cover a number of contingencies for a possible tour of England that is likely to be played in a bio-safe “bubble”, meaning substitute players will not can be drawn in.
A final roster will be named when the tour is confirmed.
Australia’s preliminary squad: Sean Abbott, Ashton-Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Michael Neser, Josh Philippe, Daniel Sams D’Arcy Short, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
The KFC BBL stars Sams, Meredith and Philippe were all named and identified as interesting players for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Other notable names on the list of 26 include Glenn Maxwell, who hasn’t played for Australia since October, and batsmen Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, who recently fell out of favor in white ball cricket.
Paceman Andrew Tye was also named, although Western Australia didn’t offer a state treaty this season.
Victoria’s Peter Handscomb and veterans Shaun Marsh and Nathan Coulter-Nile, who were all part of the Australian World Cup last year, were all overlooked, while WA Tempo duo Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff were not considered due to injury.
Other notable players not mentioned include Test Quick James Pattinson, the youngest ODI and T20 team member Ashton Turner, and local stars such as Cameron Green, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Ellis and Jono Wells.
Ben Oliver, CA’s executive general manager of the national teams, said while officials are still working on the logistics of the tour of England, the announcement of a group of 26 players will give everyone the much-needed clarity.
“The ECB is a longstanding and valued international cricket partner and we are doing everything we can to give the tour the best possible chance,” he said.
“We continue to work with the ECB and government agencies and a decision on the tour will be made in due course.
“In the meantime, identifying a preliminary list will allow us to work more directly with players and states to prepare for the tour in the hope that it can continue.”
“The health and well-being of players and employees, as well as our commitment to public health in our communities remain our top priority.”
A short tour consisting of three ODIs and three T20s was originally planned for this month, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the tour continues, players and coaches will likely need to be quarantined during the series in hubs – as players in England and the West Indies are currently doing – while tour group members may also need to be quarantined when they go to Australia to return.
“This preliminary list covers the contingencies of playing One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals in bio-safe hubs, with the likely prospect of not providing a replacement if the tour continues,” said Selector Trevor Hohns.
“The preliminary list includes several exciting young players who have recently excelled at country level and in the BBL. We want to develop these emerging players because we believe they have a bright future in Australian cricket.”
“The preliminary list also includes a look at the upcoming ICC T20 World Championship and, in the longer term, the ICC World Championship 2023.”
Australia’s preliminary squad: Sean Abbott, Ashton-Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Michael Neser, Josh Philippe, Daniel Sams D’Arcy Short, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
