While the world’s top cricketers are enjoying a break, most of Australia’s players will have to deal with Big Bash League obligations soon after their tour to India
With Australia 0-2 down against a second-string India side, the ODI world champions have sent most of the star players home. The likes of Steve Smith, Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott and Josh Inglis will return home. Among them, Smith and Zampa have already returned home ahead of IND vs AUS 3rd T20I in Guwahati. Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Abbott will return home on Wednesday.
Players who are returning home: Steve Smith, Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott
Players who are joining in: Josh Phillippe, Ben McDermott, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green
Australia came to India two weeks before the start of the World Cup. The Aussies played an ODI series with India which ended two days prior to the start of the World Cup. Many players from the World Cup winning squad stayed back to play the T20I series unlike India, who kept only Suryakumar Yadav from the World Cup squad to lead the T20 team. Notably, another WC squad member Shreyas Iyer will join the T20 team for the last two matches.
While eight members of the victorious World Cup team, including captain Pat Cummings, have now returned home with the trophy, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott, Marcus Stoinis and Tanvir Sangha have been in India for more than two months.
While the world’s top cricketers are enjoying a break after the taxing World Cup, Australia’s players will have to deal with Big Bash League obligations that starts on December 07 after their tour to India. It is presumably another reason why key players are being called back.
According to Sydney Morning Herald, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe and Chris Green are among the players being flown in to India. However, Cricket Australia is yet to confirm which players will be returning back home.
The third T20I of the five-match series, scheduled on November 28 in Guwahati is a must-win tie for the Aussies to keep hopes of winning the series alive.
Updated Australia T20 squad: Matthew Wade (c), Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Chris Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Kane Richardson
