Participating countries have started to announce their teams ahead of the World Cup. Australia has announced the team. They had already given a team of 18 members. Cricket Australia has announced the final team of 15 members.
There are no big surprises in the team. However, four cricketers who are struggling with injuries - Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell - have been kept in the Australian squad. Cricket Australia (CA) is hopeful that they will all recover in time. Therefore, the World Cup team has been announced by including them.
Cummins suffered a hand injury in the Ashes series. Smith suffered a wrist injury in the same series. Both were dropped in the ODI series against South Africa. Besides, Maxwell has an ankle injury and Starc is suffering from a groin problem.
Australia will start the five-match ODI series against South Africa from tomorrow. Cummins, Smith, Starc and Maxwell are not staying in this series. Pace all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will lead Ajid against the Proteas.
Places of three in the initial 18-member squad were not announced on Wednesday. They are pacer Nathan Ellis, leg-spinner Tanvir Sanga and all-rounder Aaron Hardy. Among them, Sanga and Hardy are yet to make their ODI debut. Ellis played only four matches in this edition.
The World Cup will start from October 5 in India. Five-time champions Australia will play their first match on October 8. The team will face the hosts in Chennai that day.
