Cricket Australia have announced an 18-member preliminary squad for the 50-over 2023 World Cup which includes a couple of surprise picks and one notable omission.

Why did Marnus miss out?

In a move that could surprise some, Australia have left out Marnus Labuschagne from their preliminary squad for the 2023 World Cup that will be played in India. Labuschagne is one of only three Australian players to have played 30 or more ODIs since the start of 2020 and is the only specialist batter to do so.

However, his returns haven’t been outstanding in the format. From 28 innings, he averages 31.37 with a strike rate of 83.20 and only one triple-figure score to show for. In Asia, his numbers drop further as his average slips down to 28.91 and strike rate to 77.45. With an abundance of all-round options to choose from, Australia have decided to leave Labuschagne out.

Australia at the World Cup: Squad analysis

The squad also contains two uncapped youngsters: 24-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder Aaron Hardie who has a List A experience of just 16 matches and 21-year-old leg spinner Tanveer Sangha who has played only five List A games so far in his career.

While Hardie will compete with other seam-bowling all-rounders in the squad like Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis, Sangha can potentially provide another spin option for Australia on surfaces that are expected to take turn in the World Cup.

The 18-member squad will be trimmed down to a final 15-member squad, the deadline for which is September 28 according to the ICC’s regulations. Australia have eight ODI games left to play before their first match in the World Cup against India on October 8: five against South Africa in South Africa, and three against India in India.

They would want to give youngsters like Hardie and Sangha enough opportunities to showcase their abilities before sitting down to finalize their squad for the mega event.

The squad will be led by regular captain Pat Cummins, who despite suffering a fractured wrist during the Ashes, is expected to be fit and ready by the time the World Cup begins.

World Cup 2023: Australia preliminary squad

Batters: David Warner, Travis Head, Steve Smith

Wicketkeepers: Alex Carey, Josh Inglis

Seam-bowling all-rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie

Spin-bowling all-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar

Fast bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis

Spinners: Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha

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