Cricket Australia has announced a preliminary 18-member squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India. Pat Cummins will lead the Australian side in India as he got experienced players on their side, who have an ample amount of familiarity playing in Indian conditions.
Uncapped Tanveer Sangha and Aaron Hardie have been thrown in as a surprise inclusion in the preliminary squad for the World Cup which will be later reduced to a 15-men squad closer to the start of the tournament in India and the same squad will take on South Africa and India in the ODI series before the World Cup. Owing to the notable omissions, Marnus Labuschagne and Tim David are not listed as a part of the team for the marquee event later this year.
The team will consist of the likes of experienced David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis in the team as their form will be crucial for the team’s success on Indian soil. Australia will start their world cup campaign with the hosts India at Chennai on October 8 and the Baggy Greens will start their preparation with South Africa later in August followed by three-match series against India.
Presenting your 18-player squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup, as well as two lead-in series against South Africa and India! ??? pic.twitter.com/h6jVWYJvMy
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) August 7, 2023
Pat Cummins-led side is one of the most successful teams in the 50-over World Cup winning five championship titles including the 2015 championship on their home soil.
The Australian team is on a roll in recent ICC trophies winning the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai and defeating mighty India in the recently concluded World Test Championship final in Kennington, Oval, and will look to win the championship on home soil.
Pat Cummins, David Warner, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc would look to put in some match-winning performances, as this World Cup could probably be the last World Cup for many Australian stars.
The role of Adam Zampa, Ashton Agar, and Glenn Maxwell will be important for Australia’s success, as the pitches will aid the spinners in India alongside pacers experienced pacers in the team and they have also got some excellent batters in the middle order who can take on the spinners in the middle overs of the game.
Australia’s preliminary World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa