Aaron Finch picks his playing XI for Australia in T20 World Cup 2024
Aaron Finch picks his playing XI for Australia in T20 World Cup 2024
The 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, is set to take place in the United States and the West Indies in June, Aaron Finch has selected his Australia XI. Steve Smith, the team’s ace hitter, was left out of Finch’s 2024 playing lineup. The captain of Australia that won the 2021 T20 World Cup, Finch, believes Josh Inglis, a wicketkeeper-batter, can fill in as the finisher and has more versatility than Smith.
Smith keen to join the team
Despite his lack of recent experience in the format, Smith is keen to join the World Cup team. For the past two years, the 34-year-old has not taken part in either the Indian Premier League (IPL) or the Big Bash League (BBL). Following their triumphant 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, the right-handed hitters from Australia participated in the Twenty20 International series against India. He will play in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand starting on February 21 but has not been picked for the T20I series against the West Indies, which begins on February 9.
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Finch excludes Smith from Australia’s playing XI
“I probably don’t have him (Steve Smith) in the 11 at the moment and the reason for that is I think there’s enough batting firepower right there in the list… Josh Inglis, he’s so versatile that he can almost play the role that Steve Smith plays but also a finisher as well,” Finch told ESPNcricinfo.
Marcus Stoinis was also named in Finch’s XI, but he stated that, depending on the situation, spin all-rounder Matt Short may take his place. “I’ve got Marcus Stoinis and Matt Short in. In the Caribbean, the wickets can spin a lot as well. I’d like to have the option of Matt Short there or Marcus Stoinis if you feel like you need that extra cover with the ball,” the former cricketer added.
Aaron Finch’s T20 World Cup XI for Australia
David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis/Matthew Short, Tim David, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood