Australia name injury-prone all-rounder as captain of T20I team who will lead them at 2024 T20 World Cup

The all-rounder played a crucial role in Australia's maiden T20 World Cup win.

Australia name injury-prone all-rounder as captain of T20I team who will lead them at 2024 T20 World Cup

Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell (Image via ESPNCricinfo)

Cricket Australia on Monday (7 August) announced their new T20I captain and it is none other than Mitchell Marsh. The swashbuckling all-rounder who played a pivotal role in Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup triumph has succeeded Aaron Finch who retired from all forms of cricket earlier this year (February 2023). However, the appointment is on an interim basis, looking at the 2024 T20 World Cup next year. 

Mitchell Marsh has experience leading a side as the 31-year-old has led  Perth Scorchers and Western Australia. However, just like Perth Scorchers’ captaincy, there was a chance that Ashton Turner might take over Australia’s T20I captaincy as well. However, Marsh’s seniority helped him land the job.

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“Mitch has long been a senior player within the white-ball structure, with this an opportunity for him to add to his leadership skills at the international level,” said selection chair George Bailey. “We look forward to him taking that step in South Africa.”

Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

Also Read: “He gives us freedom as a bowler,” Yuzvendra Chahal reveals similarities between MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya’s captaincy

Steve Smith to get new role under Mitchell Marsh’s captaincy

steve smith t20s
Steve Smith (Image via ICC Cricket)

With Mitchell Marsh taking over, there might be some changes seen in the Australian T20I team. While a lot of senior players have not been included in the squad for the three-match T20I series against South Africa, Steve Smith is set to be given a new role in the team which might lead to his resurgence in the shortest format. 

CA Chief Selector George Bailey confirmed that Steve Smith is set to open the innings for Australia as they play South Africa. The veteran batter who has batted at No.3 and No. 4 positions for the majority of his career will be promoted up the order following his BBL exploits.

“He’ll open in South Africa and I guess he’s the one guy out of those multi-format players who is heading across that we wanted to give that opportunity,” Bailey said of Smith. “The way he played in the Big Bash, that’s something we want to see replicated internationally.”

Notably, Steve Smith ended BBL 2023 with a whopping average of 86.5 which also saw him score two centuries while opening the innings for Sydney Sixers.

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