Australian captain Mitch Marsh denies the T20 team is going through a “reset” after the failed World Cup campaign and says the three-game series against Scotland is more about “opportunity” for the incoming generation of white-ball stars.
Marsh said the team for Wednesday night’s opening match at The Grange in Edinburgh (live from 11pm AEST) was locked in but was reluctant to declare which of the young players in the squad would get a debut.
Batting dynamo Jake Fraser-McGurk looks set to open the batting after the retirement of David Warner, having been named in both T20 and ODI squads, and Marsh said the first-time tourists, including WA young gun Cooper Connolly and Queensland fast bowler Xavier Bartlett, were “champing at the bit” to get involved.
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Marsh said it was more than likely all 14 players in the squad would play in one of the three games.
“I don’t think it’s a reset,” Marsh said of the changing faces in the squad.
“I think there’s certainly opportunity for guys to come in and get their opportunity, but I wouldn’t say it’s a reset.
“We’ve got a bit of experience that are missing out on this tour, but all these guys have certainly earned their spot. They all bring different skill sets and the thing we spoke about is just coming together as a unit.
“That’s one of the great challenges of international cricket is feeling comfortable at that level and that’s our job as leaders, to make the guys feel really comfortable.
“They’ll be challenged, they’ll be under pressure, but looking after each other, having fun and enjoying playing international cricket is really important for us.”
It’s the first time Australia has played Scotland in a multi-game bilateral series, having last toured there for one-off ODIs in 2009 and 2013.
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Marsh said Warner would be “missed” but had set a benchmark for the next group of players to rise to.
“Davey was obviously one of our best to ever do it and he always bought so much experience and no matter who he played against, he was always up for the challenge playing cricket for Australia,” he said.
“I think that’s probably something that our young guys can learn from, but he’ll always be missed.
Fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are also absent for the Scotland games, with Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith and Bartlett to lead the pace attack.
“Paddy, Hoff, Starkey, they’re a real unit when they bowl together on the field and that’s something we want to bring from our, I guess, lesser experienced players,” he said.
“But got full faith in them, they’re extremely skilful and I’m looking forward to them having a crack.
“I think we’ve got a really energetic young group who are champing at the bit to play for Australia and that’s really exciting.”
Australia’s T20 tour of Scotland
All times AEST
September 4 – First T20, Edinburgh, 11pm
September 6 – Second T20, Edinburgh, 11pm
September 7 – Third T20, Edinburgh, 11pm
Australia’s T20 Squad
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Riley Meredith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Scotland’s T20 squad
Richie Berrington (c), Charlie Cassell, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Jasper Davidson, Chris Greaves, Oli Hairs, Jack Jarvis, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Charlie Tear, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal
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