ODI World Cup: Labuschagne omission headlines Australia’s preliminary squad announcement

Marnus Labuschagne (Pic: AFP)

Australia announced several surprise selections in their 18-member squad for the ODI World Cup in India. Uncapped leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and inexperienced all-rounder Aaron Hardie are surprise additions, with Test star Marnus Labuschagne being the notable omission from the squad.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh was named the new T20 captain for their upcomin tour to South Africa, as selectors revealed Test and one-day skipper Pat Cummins has a fractured wrist but should be fit for the World Cup. Marsh will take the armband for the first three T20 matches since Aaron Finch's retirement, leading a squad missing Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green and David Warner, who are all being rested.

Cummins will also be absent as he recovers from the injury sustained in the final Ashes Test in London. All of them will join up for the one-day leg of the South African tour.

"He has an undisplaced fracture of his left radius which requires six weeks rehabilitation," chairman of selectors George Bailey said of Cummins. "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," he added.

Also Read: CAB officials instructed to end Eden renovation by Sept 15 for ODI World Cup

Rising all-rounder Spencer Johnson, power-hitter Matthew Short and left-arm seamer Aaron Hardie all earned maiden national call-ups for the T20 games. Jason Behrendorff also returns to national colours for the first time since the 2022 Pakistan tour.

The side is the most successful in the history of ODI cricket, winning more than 60 per cent of their matches, with a record seven World Cup final appearances (1975, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015) and have won the World Cup a record five times: 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015.

Australia is the first (and only) team to appear in four consecutive World Cup finals (1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007), surpassing the old record of three consecutive World Cup appearances by the West Indies (1975, 1979 and 1983) and the first and only team to win 3 consecutive World Cups (1999, 2003 and 2007).

Australia have also won the ICC Champions Trophy twice (2006 and 2009) making them the first and the only team to become back-to-back winners in the Champions Trophy tournaments.

The team has played 978 ODI matches, winning 594, losing 341, tying 9 and with 34 ending in a no-result.

Australia's preliminary World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

(With agency inputs)