Australia have left out Steve Smith and Jake Fraser-McGurk from their provisional 15-man T20 World Cup for this June’s tournament in the USA and the Caribbean.
Former captain Smith made just four and 11 during two T20I innings in New Zealand in February and scored only one fifty in the format since 2019.
Fraser-McGurk has also been omitted despite impressing for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League with two 15-ball fifties and three half-centuries in total.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk smashed a half-century off just 15 balls for Delhi Capitals in the IPL – as he matched his own record for the fastest fifty this season
The 22-year-old’s strike-rate in six innings is a whopping 233.33 and chief selector George Bailey said the batter was among players who were part of “long conversations”.
On Smith, Bailey added: “It’s probably for Steve to answer what his goals or challenges are going forward and what he wants to achieve in the game. I know he still loves playing T20 cricket.”
Eleven players in the squad were part of the group that won the T20 World Cup in the UAE in 2021, including captain Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
Australia T20 World Cup squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA starts on June 1, live on Sky Sports.
Watch every match from the 2024 T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports Cricket from June 1-29, or stream with NOW.
Ad content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW
Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League and EFL, plus darts, cricket, tennis, golf and so much more.
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp
You can now receive messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel. Find out more here…
