Fraser-McGurk gets nod as Warner replacement

SYDNEY: Young batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk was selected Monday for Australia’s white-ball tour of the UK in place of the retired David Warner, as selectors gave pace spearhead Pat Cummins a “pre-planned” rest.

Mitchell Marsh will be captain for the September trip which will start with three Twenty20 internationals against Scotland before three Twenty20 and five one-day internationals against England.

Former captain Steve Smith, who was overlooked for the T20 World Cup earlier this year, will play only in the 50-over format. Test skipper Cummins “will miss the entirety of the UK tour in line with a pre-planned, long-term load management strategy”, Cricket Australia said in naming the squads.

Destructive opening batsman Fraser-McGurk, 22, made his one-day international debut earlier this year and had been a travelling reserve at the Twenty20 World Cup but now gets his chance after veteran Warner stepped away at the end of the tournament.

Explosive all-rounder Cooper Connolly, 20, is also in line to make his T20 debut but veteran wicketkeeper Matthew Wade was left out. “This tour gives us a great opportunity to bring in some new players,” said chair of selectors George Bailey.

Australia squads for UK Tour

ODI squad:

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

T20 squad:

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.