Published: Aug 12, 2015, 09:23 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 12, 2015, 09:40 AM (IST)
Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday their squad for One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against England and Ireland starting later this month. Joe Burns got a deserved selection into the national team after having an impressive time on the A tour of India where he has been among the runs. Steven Smith was officially named the captain of the Australian ODI team after the retirement of Michael Clarke after winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. From the A tour, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ashton Agar were welcomed into the ODI squad. READ: A tale of two retirements — A contrast between Ashes 2015 and 2006-07
As many as seven new faces were introduced into the one-dayers as Australia looked to compete better in coloured clothing. Australia lost the Ashes 2015 in the fourth Test when England sitting on a 2-1 lead won the game by an innings and 78 runs. Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann took responsibility Wednesday for the crushing Ashes defeat to England, saying that his players were desperate to make amends in the final Test at The Oval. READ: Pat Cummins, James Pattison better options than Nathan Coulter-Nile for Australia in ODIs vs against England
“We have been poor, we have been outplayed by a superior opponent, and as coaching staff, players and selectors we fully accept the blame for our losses at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge,” Lehmann said in a column for the Cricket Australia website. “On behalf of our team I want to apologise for the manner in which we have lost, especially to those tour groups and individual fans who paid to travel to the UK to watch us and to the millions more tuning in at home.” Read: Lehmann apologises for debacle, speaks against media criticism of WAGs on tour
Australia squad for ODIs against Ireland, England: Steven Smith (c), Ashton Agar, George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Shane Watson, David Warner, Cameron Boyce (T20 only).
