Glenn Maxwell is poised to make his return to the Australian T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against India, commencing in Canberra on October 29. The charismatic all-rounder has recovered from a fractured wrist sustained while bowling in the nets prior to the T20 series in New Zealand in September.
Maxwell's inclusion will be for the final three games of the series. In addition to Maxwell, young pacer Mahli Beardman is a notable, somewhat surprising, addition to the squad. The 20-year-old Western Australian quick will also be available for the last three matches.
The selection panel has strategically managed the squad, balancing player workloads and providing opportunities for Sheffield Shield participation in preparation for the Ashes series next month. As part of this strategy, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott will be available for the first two and three games, respectively. Ben Dwarshuis will replace Abbott for the final two matches. Marnus Labuschagne has been released from the ODI squad to play in the Sheffield Shield.
Other changes to the squad include the recall of Josh Philippe, who last played a T20I in 2023. Jack Edwards, a New South Wales all-rounder, has been called up to the ODI squad for the third and final match in Sydney. Matthew Kuhnemann, who featured in the first ODI, has also been added to the squad.
Australia has already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series against India. They won the first match in Perth by seven wickets and followed it up with a two-wicket victory in Adelaide.
Australia T20I squad vs India:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott (first three matches only), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman (last three matches only), Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis (last two matches only), Jack Edwards, Josh Hazlewood (first two matches only), Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell (last three matches only), Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
The return of Maxwell provides a significant boost to the Australian squad, while the inclusion of young talent like Beardman indicates a focus on developing players for the future. These changes reflect Australia's strategy to maintain a competitive edge while managing player workloads ahead of the Ashes series.
