Australia name squad for India tour

Australia have a selected a 15-player squad for the upcoming limited-overs tour of India, with Mitch Starc and Mitch Marsh to both miss the tour.

Starc has been ruled out with a pectoral injury he sustained while bowling on the final day of the second Domain Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra, while Mitch Marsh has been dropped having been in the squad that faced India in January.

"Unfortunately, scans have revealed that Mitchell Starc sustained a substantial tear to his left pec muscle while bowling on the final day of the Test match in Canberra," national selector Trevor Hohns said.

"This means he will be unavailable for the Tour of India, but we will instead target a return to play for the ODI Series against Pakistan in the UAE in March."

Eleven of the 14 players that lost to Virat Kohli's men 2-1 have been retained, but veteran seamer Peter Siddle, towering quick Billy Stanlake and allrounder Mitch Marsh have been dropped, while there is no room for the in-form Matthew Wade

Australia T20I/ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Pat Cummins (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa

Siddle was the surprise selection against India but in three matches returned combined figures of 2-162 at 6.48 runs per over. Stanlake didn’t feature in the Gillette ODI Series against India and has been overlooked in Adelaide Strikers’ last two KFC BBL matches.  

"Peter Siddle and Mitch Marsh are unfortunate to miss out, but our message throughout the summer remains true, with such a big schedule ahead opportunities may well present themselves," Hohns said.

Coming into the squad are fast bowlers Kane Richardson and Nathan Coulter-Nile, and hard-hitting batsman Ashton Turner, who was on standby for an ill Mitch Marsh for the Sydney ODI last month.

Damaging opener and BBL|08 leading run-scorer D'Arcy Short is also in the squad as cover for Shaun Marsh as he recovers from a hamstring injury and remains in Perth for the birth of his second child.

Australia will play two T20 internationals and five ODIs against India, starting with a T20I on Sunday, February 24. All members of the squad will be available for the remainder of the KFC BBL season, including the finals, before flying to India.

Mitch Marsh's exclusion is the latest knock in what's been a difficult 2019 for the 27-year-old.

After playing one Test against India, he was dropped for the final match in Sydney before illness struck ahead of the first ODI against India. He would take no part in the series.

He was then dropped for the Sri Lanka Tests and when the National Selection Panel decided to add an allrounder for the second Test at Manuka Oval, Western Australia teammate Marcus Stoinis was parachuted in.

The right-hander will now have four rounds of JLT Sheffield Shield cricket to push his case for a World Cup and Ashes berth. 

While Mitch Marsh puts together his case for a national recall, those in the squad have the perfect chance to cement themselves in the ODI side for the World Cup, led by the new recruits.

Turner played three T20Is against Sri Lanka two years ago and is the leading run-scorer for Perth Scorchers in the BBL, with 378 runs at a strike rate of 133.09. He was named player of the match in his most recent match, where he scored 69 from 42 balls in the upset win over Melbourne Stars.

Kane Richardson is the BBL's highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets in 11 matches and is conceding just 7.07 runs per over, an impressive figure given he bowls in the powerplay and at the end of the innings.

He's joined by Coulter-Nile, the right-armer who was not considered for the India ODI series with back soreness but has played in 12 of Perth's 13 matches this season, taking a dozen wickets.

"Kane has been in outstanding form over the summer, including his recent performances in the BBL," said Hohns.

"Kane not only has experience playing ODI cricket for Australia, but he’s also performed well for his country when given the opportunity.

"Nathan Coulter-Nile provides us with another quality bowling option, he brings good energy in the field and can also score runs in high pressure situations."

Cummins, fresh off his player-of-the-series performance in the Tests against Sri Lanka, will lead the pace attack without its spearheads Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who is recovering from a back injury. 

Cummins, having been awarded the Test vice-captaincy for the Sri Lanka series, is now Finch's deputy in the white-ball formats.

Spin twins Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon are the squad's specialist spinners, with Glenn Maxwell and Short to provide support.

The batting unit, which posted scores of 5-288, 9-298 and 230 all out against India, remains intact, with Shaun Marsh expected to return for the third ODI.

"Shaun Marsh will join the squad following the birth of his second child," said Hohns.

"Shaun is also working his way back from a hamstring strain, but we expect him to be available for the third ODI. D’Arcy Short has been named in the squad as cover for Shaun.

"D’Arcy has been in outstanding form in the BBL over the summer, and he gives us another strong batting option for the opening fixtures of the tour, which include two T20s."

Head coach Justin Langer said this week the NSP want to use the tour of India and the five-match 50-over tour of the UAE against Pakistan that immediately follows to get the squad as close as possible to the 15-man World Cup group that must be announced by April 23.

The returns of Steve Smith and David Warner from suspension only make matters more intriguing as Australia begin their World Cup defence.

Australia T20I/ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Pat Cummins (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa

Qantas tour of India

First T20: February 24, Visakhapatnam

Second T20: February 27, Bengaluru

First ODI: March 2, Hyderabad

Second ODI: March 5, Nagpur

Third ODI: March 8, Ranchi

Fourth ODI: March 10, Mohali

Fifth ODI: March 13, Delhi