Australian Men's squads for ICC 2023 World Cup, tours of South Africa and India

Seven WA players have been selected across the T20 and ODI Squads, with Mitchell Marsh to captain a senior Australian team for the first time during the South African T20 Series, having previously captained at under 19 national level.

Allrounder Aaron Hardie was selected in the national squad for the first time, after impressing domestically for both Western Australia and Perth Scorchers, while also playing a starring role in the Australia A series against New Zealand earlier this year. 

Hardie, who was given the responsibility of captaining of Australia A during the last four-day match of the tour, showed his talents with the bat, striking a classy 115 after coming in with his side reeling at 2-12. 

It rounded out a breakout summer for the 24-year-old, who finished as the leading run-scorer in the KFC Big Bash League, with 460 runs at 41.81.

The squad travels to South Africa for three T20 Internationals and five One Day Internationals, then onto India for a three match ODI series followed by the ICC 2023 World Cup.

Australian T20 Squad:

• Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club) (c)
• Sean Abbott (NSW/Parramatta District Cricket Club)
• Jason Behrendorff (WA/Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club)
• Tim David (WA/Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club)
• Nathan Ellis (TAS/Lindisfarne Cricket Club)
• Aaron Hardie (WA/Willetton Cricket Club)
• Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
• Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club) 
• Spencer Johnson (SA/West Torrens Cricket Club)
• Glenn Maxwell (VIC/Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club)  
• Matt Short (VIC/Northcote Cricket Club)
• Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) 
• Marcus Stoinis (WA/Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club) 
• Adam Zampa (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green and David Warner will miss the T20 Series in preparation for the World Cup while Ashton Agar has been given more time to recover from a calf injury. All will join for the one-day leg of the South African tour.

Hardie will be joined on the tour by fellow squad newcomers South Australian Spencer Johnson and Victorian Matt Short.  

Chair of Selectors George Bailey said:

“Mitch has long been a senior player within the white ball structure, with this an opportunity for him to add to his leadership skills at international level. We look forward to him taking that step in South Africa.

“Aaron, Spencer and Matt have been outstanding in the BBL and identified as potential national players of the future. This tour is a great opportunity for all three to demonstrate those skills in a national team environment.

“Aaron has impressed in recent outings for Australia A as well as for the Scorchers while Matt has blossomed with extra responsibility at the top of the order for the Strikers.

“Spencer’s left-arm pace and bounce was highly effective in his first season for the Heat. This trip will be a fantastic experience for all three and the chance to play their first games for their country.”

Jason Behrendorff also returns to national colours for the first time since the 2022 Pakistan tour.

Australian ODI Squad:

• Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club) (c) *
• Sean Abbott (NSW/Parramatta District Cricket Club)
• Ashton Agar (WA/University Cricket Club) 
• Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club) 
• Nathan Ellis (TAS/Lindisfarne Cricket Club)
• Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club)
• Aaron Hardie (WA/Willetton Cricket Club) 
• Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club) 
• Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
• Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club) 
• Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club) 
• Glenn Maxwell (VIC/Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club) *
• Tanveer Sangha (NSW/Campbelltown Camden District Cricket Club)
• Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) 
• Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club) 
• Marcus Stoinis (WA/Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club) 
• David Warner (NSW/Randwick Petersham Cricket Club) 
• Adam Zampa (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)

*Glenn Maxwell will miss the ODI series in South Africa (family leave) and rejoin the squad in India. Pat Cummins will join the squad for the ODI series in South Africa to prepare for India as he recovers from a fractured left wrist sustained on the first day of the final Ashes Test match in London.

“Pat injured his left wrist diving in the field on the first day at The Oval,” Bailey said. “He has an undisplaced fracture of his left radius which requires six weeks rehabilitation.

“We expect him to join the squad during the South African ODI Series. We view a period of enforced rest for Pat as a positive ahead of this important World Cup campaign.

“There are still a number of games he could play before the World Cup which is more than enough for him to have a strong preparation.”

The squad is largely a continuation of the group which last defeated India 2-1 in March with the addition of Hardie, promising young spinner Tanveer Sangha, who is yet to debut in national colours but has previously toured with the Australian T20 squad, and the omission of Marnus Labuschagne.

A provisional World Cup squad of 15 players will be named in early September, with squad finalisation required on September 28.

Bailey said: “This side has been extremely impressive for several years in limited overs cricket. There is an enormous amount of skill and experience in the group which you need in a World Cup.”