With a World Cup on the horizon and in the midst of a battle to secure Olympics qualification, Australia has balanced building for the future with the need to deliver in the short-term with its squads for the upcoming tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Exciting teenager Ollie Peake and Sheffield Shield Player of the Year Liam Scott have been named in their first Australian squads alongside mature-aged domestic stars Billy Stanlake and Riley Meredith for an ODI series against Pakistan.
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Joel Davies, whose deeds with the Sydney Sixers through the summer earned him the Andrew Symonds Award as the BBL’s most valuable player, has been named in the Australian squad for the T20s against Bangladesh next month.
In an encouraging sign after injury ruined his domestic and international hopes last summer, left-armed fast bowler Spencer Johnson and another injury-plagued talent in Aaron Hardie will feature in the Bangladesh T20 series.
Once their IPL commitments are completed, and in a nod to the ODI World Cup to be held in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe next October, Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis and Xavier Bartlett will travel to Bangladesh.
The quartet will replace Stanlake, who has not played for Australia since 2019, Peake, Meredith and Matt Short for the Bangladesh ODI series, which begins on June 9 in Nagpur.
It comes with Australia in the process of examining its best options for the ODI World Cup defence won in brilliant fashion in India in 2023.
Tanveer Sangha will also feature in both ODI squads, but the Australians have rested champion trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc or Josh Hazlewood for the tours mindful of the gruelling Test schedule ahead beginning in August against Bangladesh.
Mitch Marsh, who is currently starring in the IPL, will captain all three squads for the nine matches that begin with an ODI against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on May 30.
The ODIs serve as a rare opportunity for the Aussies to explore their depth on slower wickets. While there are white ball series against England in November in Australia, there is a relative scarcity of ODI encounters ahead leading into the World Cup.
There is also a premium on the performances against Bangladesh in the T20 encounters given uncertainty surrounding the qualification rules for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which marks the return of cricket as a medal sport.
Reports suggest the highest-ranked team from each region, along with hosts America, will feature in a six-team round robin in LA and Australia is in a battle with New Zealand to secure the spot for the Pacific region.
Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey said
“It’s always exciting to see new players get an opportunity to play international cricket and be a part of the national team. The blend of experienced players coupled with new or returning players will provide a nice mix for these subcontinent tours,” he said.
“Continuing to provide opportunities for players to develop across a broad range of conditions and experiences is important and will continue to be a focus over the next 18 months to two years across the calendar and with future campaigns in mind.”
When Stanlake, who has endured an injury-riddled career, was chosen for Australia A duties last year, Hobart Hurricanes coach Jeff Vaughan was among those to praise his resilience.
“Bill was one of the unsung heroes of our BBL campaign last summer and was bowling with real pace before he unfortunately injured his shoulder”, said Vaughan.
“His selection in the Australia A matches in the coming weeks is a great reward for his form last summer, and I’m confident he will be back at his best this season.”
Every match of the series against Pakistan and Bangladesh will be screened exclusively on Kayo Sports and Fox Cricket.
Men’s Qantas ODI Series v Pakistan
Saturday, May 30: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Tuesday, June 2: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Thursday, June 4: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Men’s Qantas ODI Series v Bangladesh
Tuesday, June 9: Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Thursday, June 11: Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Sunday, June 14: Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Men’s Qantas T20I Series v Bangladesh
Wednesday, June 17: Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
Friday, June 19: Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
Sunday, June 21: Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
*Pakistan ODI squad:*
Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club) (c)
Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Nathan Ellis (TAS/Lindisfarne Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Matthew Kuhnemann (TAS/Clarence Cricket Club)
Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)
Riley Meredith (TAS/Clarence Cricket Club)
Ollie Peake (VIC/Geelong Cricket Club)
Matthew Renshaw (QLD/Toombul Cricket Club)
Tanveer Sangha (NSW/Campbelltown Camden Cricket Club)
Liam Scott (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Matthew Short (VIC/Northcote Cricket Club)
Billy Stanlake (TAS/Greater Northern Raiders Cricket Club)
Adam Zampa (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)
*Bangladesh ODI squad:*
Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club) (c)
Xavier Bartlett (QLD/Gold Coast Cricket Club)
Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Cooper Connolly (WA/Scarborough Cricket Club)
Ben Dwarshuis (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)
Nathan Ellis (TAS/Lindisfarne Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Matthew Kuhnemann (TAS/ Clarence Cricket Club)
Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)
Matthew Renshaw (QLD/Toombul Cricket Club)
Tanveer Sangha (NSW/Campbelltown Camden Cricket Club)
Liam Scott (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Adam Zampa (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)
*Bangladesh T20 squad:*
Mitchell Marsh (Perth Scorchers/Fremantle Cricket Club) (c)
Xavier Bartlett (Brisbane Heat/Gold Coast Cricket Club)
Cooper Connolly (Perth Scorchers/Scarborough Cricket Club)
Tim David (Hobart Hurricanes/Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club)
Joel Davies (Sydney Sixers/Manly Waringah Cricket Club)
Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes/Lindisfarne Cricket Club
Cameron Green (Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Aaron Hardie (Perth Scorchers/ Willetton Cricket Club)
Travis Head (Adelaide Strikers/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Spencer Johnson (Brisbane Heat/West Torrens Cricket Club)
Matthew Kuhnemann (Brisbane Heat/Clarence Cricket Club)
Riley Meredith (Hobart Hurricanes/Clarence Cricket Club)
Josh Philippe (Sydney Sixers/Western Suburbs District Cricket Club)
Matthew Renshaw (Brisbane Heat/Toombul Cricket Club)
Adam Zampa (Melbourne Renegades/Sutherland Cricket Club)
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