Dynamic opening batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk and experienced all-rounder Marcus Stoinis have been dropped from Australia’s T20 squad, in a sign the pair are on the outer ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Australian selectors have named a new-look squad for five T20 internationals in Jamaica and St Kitts in July to be played after a three-Test series in the Caribbean.
Jake Fraser-McGurk has been left out of Australia’s T20 squad ahead of matches against the West Indies. Credit: Getty Images
Mitch Marsh returns to captain the side after missing the last T20 campaign against Pakistan in November.
While Test stars Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Mitchell Starc will return home after the red-ball fixtures, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and Matt Kuhnemann will remain in the Caribbean for five white-ball matches.
The most notable omissions are Fraser-McGurk and Stoinis, both of whom featured in Australia’s most recent T20 series. Queensland quick Xavier Bartlett also misses out despite having claimed at least one wicket in each of his seven T20 internationals last year.
Fraser-McGurk, who was also overlooked for Australia’s Champions Trophy one-day squad, averages 16.14 from seven T20 internationals at a strike rate of 143.03. The 23-year-old endured a lean IPL campaign, managing just 55 runs at 9.16.
Australia men’s squad for T20I Series against the West Indies
- Mitchell Marsh (Perth Scorchers/Fremantle Cricket Club) (c)
- Sean Abbott (Sydney Sixers/Parramatta District Cricket Club)
- Cooper Connolly (Perth Scorchers/Scarborough Cricket Club)
- Tim David (Hobart Hurricanes/Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club)
- Ben Dwarshuis (Sydney Sixers/Sutherland Cricket Club)
- Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes/Lindisfarne Cricket Club)
- Cameron Green (Western Australia/ Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
- Aaron Hardie (Perth Scorchers/Willetton Cricket Club)
- Josh Hazlewood (Sydney Sixers/ St George Cricket Club)
- Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers/Joondalup Cricket Club)
- Spencer Johnson (Brisbane Heat/West Torrens Cricket Club)
- Matt Kuhnemann (Brisbane Heat/Clarence Cricket Club)
- Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars/Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club)
- Mitch Owen (Hobart Hurricanes/New Town Cricket Club)
- Matthew Short (Adelaide Strikers/Northcote Cricket Club)
- Adam Zampa (Melbourne Renegades/Sutherland Cricket Club)
Considered one of the brightest young talents in the country, Fraser-McGurk burst onto the scene with a 29-ball century for South Australia in the one-day cup in 2023, then clubbed 41 off 18 deliveries against the West Indies in just his second ODI.
Stoinis, meanwhile, has been a mainstay in Australia’s T20 set-up, playing 17 of the 21 matches in the format last year. The 35-year-old, who announced his ODI retirement in February, averaged 36.66 with the bat and snared 21 wickets at 17 in T20 internationals across 2024.
He compiled 160 runs at 26.66 in this year’s IPL but has not done enough to retain his place in the Australian set-up.
Stoinis, whose international future is unclear, was named player of the match in his last T20. He will take part in the Hundred in the UK later this year.
Australia’s Marcus Stoinis receives the player of the match award during game three of the Men’s T20 International match series between Australia and Pakistan in November.Credit: Getty Images
Cooper Connolly and Green return to the T20 setup after overcoming injury, while uncapped batsman Mitch Owen has been rewarded for his excellent Big Bash form.
Australia have won 12 of their past 14 T20 internationals as they build towards next year’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February and March.
The first T20 between Australia and West Indies takes place on July 20 in Kingston.
In a statement, chair of selectors George Bailey said: “We have a busy T20 schedule coming up [in the West Indies] … followed by three [T20s] against South Africa and New Zealand and five matches against India at home as we continue to refine and build a squad we think will be the right fit for the World Cup on the subcontinent.
“There are a number of players outside the squad who can still force their way into the mix for those upcoming Indian series and through the Big Bash. It’s an exciting time in our T20 space.”
