Mitch Owen Receives First Call-Up to Australian T20I Squad for West Indies Series
Mitch Owen's Exciting Debut
New Delhi, June 4: Mitch Owen has been selected for the Australian cricket team for the first time, as he joins the squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies scheduled for July. Young opener Jake Fraser-McGurk has been left out of the T20I lineup following a prolonged period of underperformance, while Marcus Stoinis and Xavier Bartlett have also been excluded from the Caribbean tour.
Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly are making their return to the T20I squad after recovering from injuries, with Green likely to play solely as a batsman. Josh Hazlewood, fresh off winning the IPL 2025 title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is also back in the team, alongside Glenn Maxwell. Additionally, left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has received his first call-up to the T20I side.
Notably, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Mitchell Starc will not participate in the T20I series, as they will head back to Australia after the Test series in the West Indies. Mitchell Marsh resumes his role as captain after missing the T20I series against Pakistan in November 2024 due to paternity leave and preparations for the Tests against India.
Owen's selection follows a standout season in the Big Bash League with the Hobart Hurricanes, where he notably scored a century in the final, leading the team to its inaugural title. Despite a less impressive performance in the SA20, PSL, and IPL, the selection committee, led by George Bailey, is eager to see how Owen handles the pressures of international cricket at the top of the order.
Australia has achieved victory in 12 of their last 14 T20I matches as they gear up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka. Following the West Indies series, Australia will face T20I matches against South Africa, New Zealand, and India.
Bailey commented, “We have a packed T20 schedule ahead, starting with this series, followed by three matches against South Africa and New Zealand, and five games against India at home. We are focused on refining and building a squad that we believe will be well-suited for the World Cup in the subcontinent.”
He added, “Several players not in the current squad still have the opportunity to make their case for the upcoming series against India and through the Big Bash. The development of connections, roles, and combinations is progressing well as we prepare for the World Cup. It’s an exciting time for our T20 team.”
The Australian T20I squad includes: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Matthew Short, and Adam Zampa.