Australia name full strength squad in search of elusive T20 WC title

Melbourne, Aug 19 (PTI): Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins were on Thursday recalled as Australia named a full strength squad in search of an elusive ICC T20 World Cup title later this year.
The 15-man Australia squad for the showpiece, to be held in Oman and UAE in October, is a mixture of pace, spin and hard-hitters keeping in mind the slow, spin-friendly conditions of the pitches in the UAE.
The trio had opted out of Australia’s limited overs tour of the West Indies and Bangladesh recently.
In a major development, Australia has included uncapped Josh Inglis as a backup to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.
Inglis, who is yet to make his international debut, has been chosen ahead of Alex Carey and Josh Philippe.
Having dominated the ODI World Cup with record five titles and two runner-up finishes, Australia would be eager to break their jinx in the T20 World Cup.
Australia has endured a poor run in the T20 format off late, losing back-to-back series to West Indies and Bangladesh recently.
But the return of Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Warner, Cummins, Smith and Kane Richardson after opting out of recent white-ball tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh, will add much-needed firepower to Australia’s team.
Smith has been included despite his ongoing elbow injury, while limited overs skipper Aaron Finch, who missed the Bangladesh series to undergo knee surgery, is expected to be fit on time for the tournament.
Dan Christian, Nathan Ellis and Daniel Sams have been named as reserves and will be travelling with the team.
Keeping in mind the spin-friendly conditions, Australia has included three frontline spinners in the squad — Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson and Adam Zampa.

Squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Pat Cummins (vice-captain), Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.