David Warner and Travis Head are set to open for Australia in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
Australia’s T20 World Cup 2024 top-order revealed
Australia is set to open with David Warner and Travis Head at the T20 World Cup 2024 after the pair is set to open in the upcoming Australia tour of New Zealand 2024.
Steve Smith who was named as the test opener will likely miss the spot in the playing 11. Speaking in the pre-match conference, Mitchell Marsh also confirmed that he will remain in the No.3 spot.
Glenn Maxwell’s success remains No.4 where he smashed 120 runs on 55 deliveries on West Indies’ tour of Australia 2024.
Australia’s vice-captain and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is also set to miss the first T20I match played on Wednesday.
He is awaiting the birth of his third child and is expected to join the squad for the second and third T20I games on Friday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, Marcus Stoinis has been sidelined due to a tweak in the back after the T20I series of the home tour. Aaron Hardie was called in as a replacement for the player.
Stoinis had a back injury during the warm-up for the second T20I match against West Indies in Adelaide but was still able to play in the match.
“You’ll have to find out, we’ll announce our team at the toss,” Marsh said in response to a query about Maxwell and Smith’s batting roles against NZ.
“There will be certain guys that probably bat in different positions than they have done in the past, but ultimately we’re here to win the series.
“I’ve batted three for the last 18 months, so I’ll be there to start with. And obviously Heady and Davey Warner have been amazing for us over the last period of time, so I daresay that will be the top three.”
“I think players like Tim (David) are a rarity, and it (number six) is probably the hardest role within T20 cricket. We’re lucky to have him.
“He’s become a phenomenal player in that role and there’s no doubt he’s going to play a big part for us.”
The Australian squad for the New Zealand series will represent Australia’s bilateral T20 hit-out before the World Cup to be played in the Caribbean and the USA.
Marsh who has been appointed as the captain for the T20 format after Finch has continued to lead the side and looks forward to T20 World Cup in June.
“I can’t wait to tell him what to do,” said Marsh. “I’m normally filling in for his press conferences when he’s had enough, so I’ll get him back at some stage.
“But I also feel pretty lucky to have somebody like Pat as another leader within our group to fall back on, and the experienced heads we’ve got that will help me in certain times throughout this series.
“I just think their experience (Cummins and Starc), certainly at this level, and the three of them (with Hazlewood) work together so well.
“We’re lucky to have those guys back. Over the international schedule you don’t see those guys play a lot of T20 international cricket together so to have them back and building towards a World Cup is great.”
“There were moments when we lost early wickets but one of the things I want from us is to make sure we’re backing our skill no matter what.
“That may look ugly at times, but I think we’ve got a team that bats right down to eight or nine and can really apply pressure with the bat.
“There were lots of positives, we blooded some young guys – Bartlett came in and did really well in his first game for Australia.
“And whilst we look ahead – and it happens a lot in international cricket, especially in World Cup years – we’re here to win the series, and one of our strong points is remaining present.”
Australia will be playing their first match of the T20 World Cup 2024 schedule against Oman on June 06 at Kensington Oval Barbados.
Australia and New Zealand will be playing their first T20I match on February 21 at Wellington Regional Stadium.
