The announcement of Australia’s preliminary 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts, with notable exclusions raising eyebrows and pundits weighing in on the selections.

Mitchell Marsh to Lead Australia

Mitchell Marsh’s appointment as Australia’s permanent T20I captain headlines the squad announcement, with Cricket Australia confirming the star all-rounder’s leadership role. Marsh’s previous experience as interim captain in the T20I series has impressed selectors, paving the way for his captaincy stint in the upcoming tournament.

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Australia’s Bowling Department

The inclusion of Ashton Agar as the second specialist spinner underscores Australia’s emphasis on bolstering their spin options for the T20 World Cup. Agar’s presence adds depth to the spin department, providing crucial variations in the team’s bowling arsenal.

Nathan Ellis’ inclusion as the fourth fast bowler alongside stalwarts like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc reflects Australia’s depth in the pace department. Ellis’ promising performances have earned him a spot in the squad, adding further firepower to Australia’s formidable bowling lineup.

Exclusion of Fraser-McGurk and Smith

The omission of Jake Fraser-McGurk and seasoned campaigner Steve Smith, despite his impressive performances in IPL 2024, has stirred controversy. While Fraser-McGurk showcased his batting prowess with the Delhi Capitals, selectors favoured versatility in Cameron Green and Josh Inglis, leading to their inclusion over Fraser-McGurk and Smith.

Mark Waugh’s Opinion on the Squad Selection

Former Australian cricketer and commentator Mark Waugh expressed his views on the squad selection, expressing surprise at Fraser-McGurk’s exclusion. Waugh believes Fraser-McGurk’s versatility should have earned him a place in the squad, along with the inclusion of Matt Short.

Waugh feels Jake Fraser-McGurk should have been there. Waugh mentioned that Fraser-McGurk can do anything, and he should have been picked in the 15-member squad. The Aussie great also mentioned that Matt Short should have been also named in the team.

Jake Fraser-McGurk should be in the T20 World Cup squad because he can give a blistering start to his team, which helps lower-order batters to set a big total on board. 

In the ongoing Indian Premier League, the 23-year-old has a batting strike rate of 233.33 for the Delhi Capitals and has scored 259 runs, with more than half of those coming from sixes.

Mark Waugh wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Aust would have been even more powerful with Jake Fraser Mc in the line up.”

Mark Waugh wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): “A very strong squad no doubt that should be hard to beat but to leave out JFM is quite frankly hard to fathom. I would also have had Matt Short in.”

He also wrote: “Yes Short for Agar and you don’t need both Stoinis and Green in the squad. We know what we are getting with all the squad but with JFM we don’t know his ceiling. He could be anything.”

Here’s Australia’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024:

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Adam Zampa