Mitchell Marsh To Lead Australia's Full-strength T20I Squad Against New Zealand

Australia have named all-rounder Mitchell Marsh as captain for the upcoming three-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting on February 21. Australia have picked their full-strength squad as Mitchell Star, Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Steve Smith return in the final T20I series before this year's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

All of them were rested for the home T20Is against West Indies that starts on Friday in Hobart. Australia have included Matthew Short in the squad despite a low-grade hamstring injury that ruled him out of the West Indies series. He is expected to be fit for the New Zealand tour.

Aaron Hardie will replace Short in the squad for the West Indies' T20I series but has not been included in the New Zealand squad.

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Pacer Nathan Ellis has also found a place in the squad alongside Cummins, Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the New Zealand T20Is although he is still recovering from a rib injury. Ellis has been picked ahead of Jason Behrendorff and Sean Abbott for the series as the latter were named standby players for the New Zealand tour despite leading the pace attack against West Indies in upcoming T20Is.

Spencer Johnson is on standby to replace him in the squad for the West Indies series should he need more time to be ready for the trip to New Zealand, Cricket Australia said.

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National Selection Panel chair George Bailey said: "Travis, Pat, Mitchell and Steve rejoin the squad following the series against the West Indies with Jason Behrendorff and Sean Abbott amongst the standby players from those playing the upcoming T20s."

"The next six games will provide us the opportunity to start shaping what we think our World Cup squad will look like and potential roles within that. We will also fully utilise the opportunity to monitor and watch the performances of the Australian players in the IPL immediately preceding the World Cup," Bailey added.

All-rounder Cameron Green did not find any place in the 15-member squad with selectors wanting him to focus on the two-match Test series against New Zealand after the culmination of T20Is. With IPL in line in March, selectors feel Green will have enough game time for the pinnacle of the shortest format.

Australia T20I squad against New Zealand: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.