Muirhead shock in T20 team

A 20-year-old legspinner with just four Twenty20 appearances and half as many first-class matches under his belt is the surprise inclusion in Australia’s 14-man squad for the upcoming three-match KFC T20 series against England.

James Muirhead, currently in the Melbourne Stars and a member of Victoria’s Bupa Sheffield Shield team, was named in the squad and created expectation that he might be in the frame for the upcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup scheduled for Bangladesh.

The squad, which will travel to South Africa for three T20 matches that follow the Test series there, also includes fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood who are returning from injury.

In naming the squad today, chairman of selectors John Inverarity pointed out that some of the players needed for the upcoming Test series in South Africa were not considered for the KFC T20 series.

But he added those in the 14-man squad, to be captained by dumped Test batsman George Bailey, could come under consideration for the next T20 World Cup, with that squad to be finalised by mid-February.

“The ICC World Twenty20 is just around the corner and these and other players will come into contention for our 15-man squad for that tournament,” Inverarity said.

“Cameron White and Chris Lynn have been in tremendous form this season and have shown themselves to be destructive hitters of the ball, as have all-rounders Dan Christian and Ben Cutting.

“The NSP is looking to develop spin bowling options for both the ICC World Twenty20 and the 2015 ICC World Cup.

“Twenty year old James Muirhead has impressed recently.

“He is an exciting prospect as an emerging leg-spinner and will be looking to make the most of his opportunity.

“Mitchell Starc has a fine record in International T20 cricket and is an important player in our ICC World Twenty20 campaign.

“It is anticipated that he will be ready to perform by the end of this month.

“Josh Hazelwood has returned to fitness and his Big Bash League performances have been consistently very good.”

Players eventually chosen in the Australia squad for the ICC World Twenty20 will also play the three T20 fixtures against South Africa following the Tests Series in that country.

The Australian Twenty20 squad to take on England: George Bailey (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Dan Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Cutting, James Faulkner, Josh Hazelwood, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, James Murihead, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Cameron White.