Australia have announced their squad for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, with Josh Inglish to fill the skipper’s shoes due to the unavailability of permanent captain Mitchel March. Josh Inglish will also lead the Aussies in their last ODI match of the ongoing series against Pakistan. With this, Josh Inglish is the 14th T20I captain of Australia and the 30th skipper to lead Australia in ODIs.
Josh Inglish is named captain in the third ODI match against Pakistan because Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne will not take part in this game to prepare for the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, and Josh Philippe are included in the ODI squad as replacements for players who decide not to take part in the third ODI.
Inglish is a surprising choice to lead Australia given his prior experience in captaincy, where he hasn’t led any domestic side or BBL team. In contrast, other players of the squad like Matt Short, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, and Nathan Ellis all have experience in captaincy, at least in BBL.
“Josh is an integral member of the ODI and T20I teams and a highly respected player on and off the field. He has led Australia A (Prime Minister’s XI) previously and will bring strong tactical nous and a positive approach to the role.” This was the stance of George Bailey, who is the chair of selectors of Cricket Australia(CA), on naming Josh Inglish interim captain for the T20I series against Pakistan.
Australia hasn’t made thick changes to its usual T20I team; with some forceful changes here and there, the Aussies have almost kept the same squad that toured England a few months ago.
Read More: AUS vs PAK Match Full Scorecard, 1st ODI, Melbourne
Australia’s T20I Squad for Pakistan Series
Josh Inglis (captain), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Australia’s ODI Squad for Pakistan Series
Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis (captain for third ODI only), Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa