Mitchell Owen has been called up to the national team for the first time, marking a big moment in his career. Meanwhile, experienced player Magarq has been dropped from the squad, surprising many fans ahead of the upcoming matches.
A New Star Rises in the Australian T20 Team
Fraser-McGurk Dropped from the Squad
Australian young cricketer Jack Fraser-McGurk has been left out of the national T20 team. The talented batsman had also withdrawn from the Delhi Capitals squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Now, his name is also missing from Australia’s squad for the upcoming five-match T20 series against the West Indies.
Fraser-McGurk was once seen as the next big thing and even considered a possible successor to David Warner. However, his form has not been consistent. In his last eight T20 matches, he played in seven but scored more than 20 runs only once. His only strong performance came with a 50 off 31 balls against England in September. Since then, his batting average dropped to just 15.26, with a strike rate of 136.15 in 19 T20 Internationals. Cricket Australia has advised him to return to domestic matches and franchise leagues to improve his skills and regain his form.
Mitchell Owen Gets His First Chance
Taking Fraser-McGurk’s place is Mitchell Owen, a new face in the Australian squad. The young all-rounder was impressive in the last season of the Big Bash League (BBL). Playing for the Hobart Hurricanes, Owen scored 452 runs in 11 matches. He maintained a brilliant average of 45.20 and an incredible strike rate of 203.6.
One of his biggest moments came when he smashed a century off just 39 balls, becoming the joint-fastest century-maker in BBL history. He also scored a century in the final and helped his team win their first-ever BBL title. His amazing performance earned him this first call-up to the national T20 side.
Team Changes and Key Players
Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh returns to lead the team. He missed the last series against Pakistan due to paternity leave and Test match training. Cameron Green is also back in the squad. Even though he cannot bowl at the moment, he will be playing as a specialist batsman.
Another new addition is spinner Matthew Kuhnemann. He is expected to make his T20 debut alongside experienced spinner Adam Zampa.
Some regular names like Marcus Stoinis and Xavier Bartlett have been dropped. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head will miss this series to rest. However, they might return for the three-match T20 series against South Africa in August.
T20 Series Details and Full Squad
The five-match series against the West Indies will begin on July 19 at Sabina Park in Jamaica. The remaining matches will be held at Warner Park in St. Kitts.
Here is the full squad:
- Mitchell Marsh (Captain)
- Sean Abbott
- Cooper Connolly
- Tim David
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Nathan Ellis
- Cameron Green
- Aaron Hardie
- Josh Hazlewood
- Josh Inglis
- Spencer Johnson
- Matthew Kuhnemann
- Glenn Maxwell
- Mitchell Owen
- Matthew Short
- Adam Zampa
Australia hopes to build a strong team ahead of future T20 tournaments, and Mitchell Owen could be one of the key players in this exciting new chapter.
