T20 World Cup 2024: No Place For Jake Fraser-McGurk & Steve Smith as Australia Announce Preliminary Squad

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There was no place for young opener Jake Fraser-McGurk and senior batter Steve Smith as Australia announced their preliminary squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 on Wednesday (May 1).

Also in an unsurprising announcement, Mitchell Marsh was formally appointed captain of the T20I side, having led the team on an interim basis in the shortest format for the past 12 months. Australia aim for their second T20I World title after winning their first in 2021.

"It's been an immense privilege to play for my country and now an even greater honour to lead the squad to a World Cup," Marsh was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "We have had some strong success in recent times and I am hopeful that will continue in what looks like a wide-open tournament."

While Fraser-McGurk and Smith missed out on earning a spot in Marsh led side, spin-all rounder Ashton Agar and batting all rounder Cameron Green both made the cut alongside Marcus Stoinis, who has been showing good form in the IPL 2024.

Senior opener David Warner, who is playing his final T20I assignment, is set to open along with Travis Head with Marsh likely to come in at number three. Glenn Maxwell and Tim David also find a spot in the 15-member squad.

Matthew Wade and Josh Inglis have been selected as the two wicketkeeper-batters, while Adam Zampa is the lone specialist spinner, who will share the spin duties with Agar.

The big name pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc also retain their spots alongside Nathan Ellis as the fast bowlers in the squad. Teams have until May 25 to change their squad, after which it requires ICC Event Technical Committee approval. Here is a look at Australian 15-member squad:

Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Mitch Marsh (captain), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Australia, who are in Group B, open their T20 World Cup campaign against Oman in Barbados on June 5, before further group stage fixtures against England, Namibia and Scotland.