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CRICKET-T20-WC-2020-AUS
Smith, Warner make T20 return as Australia eye World Cup
SYDNEY, Oct 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Steve Smith and David Warner completed
their return from the wilderness Tuesday when Australia recalled them to a
14-man Twenty20 squad to play Sri Lanka and Pakistan with a firm eye on next
year’s World Cup.
The star batsmen were both banned for a year for their roles in a ball-
tampering scandal but have returned to Australia’s Test, one-day and now
Twenty20 sides.
“We are delighted to welcome Steve Smith and David Warner back into the T20
international fold,” chief selector Trevor Hohns said.
“Steve is a world-class batsman in all formats, while Warner is Australia’s
highest ever T20I runs scorer. He was also the leading runs scorer at this
year’s Indian Premier League with Sunrisers Hyderabad.”
The Twenty20 squad named Tuesday will face Sri Lanka and Pakistan in coming
weeks but Hohns said the focus was firmly on next year’s World Cup, which
will be held in Australia.
“It is almost a year to the day until Australia hosts the men’s Twenty20
World Cup and we have selected this squad with that in mind,” he said.
“We have looked to put a squad together that we think can take us through
to that tournament.”
Despite their success in other formats, Australia have never won a Twenty20
World Cup, with an appearance in the 2010 final their best showing.
They are currently ranked fifth in the world but will be desperate to
succeed on home soil in October-November next year.
Aaron Finch retains the skipper’s armband, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey and
paceman Pat Cummins sharing vice-captain duties.
Ashton Turner returns from a finger injury to bolster the batting, while
Adam Zampa edged out Nathan Lyon as the preferred spinner.
Cummins and Mitchell Starc will likely open the bowling attack, backed up
by Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson and Billy Stanlake.
The three-match series against Sri Lanka will begin in Adelaide on October
27, followed by another three Twenty20s against Pakistan opening on November
3 in Sydney.
Australia:
Aaron Finch (capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell,
Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc,
Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1003 hrs