Australia’s T20I specialist pacer Andrew Tye has been ruled out of the T20I series against Sri Laka due to en elbow injury. He looked set to play his first international match of the year but felt some issues while throwing on the eve of the series-opener. He has been replaced by Sean Abbott, who played three T20Is in 2014.
While Tye has been ruled out, it has been confirmed that Aaron Finch will be playing the series. Australia’s white-ball captain was facing a race against time to be fit and at one stage. Alex Carey also looked set to lead Australia for the first time but Finch has been declared fit and will play all the six T20Is over next couple of weeks.
Recently, he missed a Sheffield Shield match and a March One-Day Cup match against Western Australia due to back spasms.
The T20I series will also mark the comeback of Steven Smith and David Warner to the T20I cricket. Smith hasn’t represented Australia in the shortest format since 2016 World Cup. He was to make his comeback against India in 2017 but a shoulder injury ruled him out.
Warner, who was tipped to be Australia T20I captain, played his previous T20I against New Zealand in February 2018. Since he and Smith were banned, both the players couldn’t play a T20I in 2018/19 season.
The first T20I of the series will be played in Adelaide tomorrow. The next two T20Is will be played in Brisbane and Melbourne on October 30 and November 1, respectively. Australia will then host Pakistan in three-match T20I series from November 3 to 8. Following the T20Is, the two teams will play a two-match Test series.
In the new year, Australia will travel India in January to play Men in Blue in three ODIs.
Australia’s T20I Squad: Aaron Finch (Captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (VC), Pat Cummins (VC), Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, Adam Zampa