Australia have announced their squad for three ODIs and three T20Is for the tour of South Africa. Glenn Maxwell, who had taken an indefinite break from international cricket due to his mental health issues, is back with the Australian national team. Maxwell showed no signs of anxiety in the Big Bash League where, while captaining Melbourne Stars, he scored 389 runs from 14 innings at an average of 43.22 and a strike rate of over 150 including three half-centuries.
“It is fantastic to have Glenn back in both squads given his brilliant form in the middle order for the Stars along with his results with the ball,” National Selector Trevor Johns said in a press release.
“Glenn was one of the first picked in the most recent T20 team at the start of the summer, prior to his break from the game.”
Among the other BBL recruits are Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade. The keeper-batsman, despite not being a regular in this edition of the BBL due to international commitments, scored the second-highest runs for his franchise with 351 runs from nine matches at an average of over 50 and a strike rate of 170 +. He also struck an unbeaten 130, the second-highest score in BBL history.
As for Marsh, he was the highest run-scorer for his franchise Perth Scorchers with 382 runs at a strike rate of 145.
Meanwhile, Seen Abbott, who performed well in the Sheffield Shield and the Marsh One-day Cup, has been included in the T20I squad.
“Jhye Richardson also returns to the T20 side from injury with his performances demanding inclusion. He is a terrific young player who has been sensational in all forms of the game; and is an extremely strong fieldsman,” Johns explained.
ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (VC), Pat Cummins (VC), Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
T20I squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (VC), Pat Cummins (VC), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa