T20 World Cup: Steve Smith, Fraser-McGurk miss out on Australia squad as Mitch Marsh is named captain

Steve Smith will miss a limited overs World Cup for the first time since 2012 after Australia chose not to pick him for the T20 tournament in the West Indies and the USA this summer.

The batter has missed out on a place in the 15-player squad, which will be led by new full-time captain Mitch Marsh.

Smith has gradually fallen down the T20 pecking order for Australia and missed his chance to impress selectors during February’s series with New Zealand, returning scores of 11 and 4 from two matches.

There is no place for rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has scored 259 runs in just six Indian Premier League matches for the Delhi Capitals.

Despite Smith’s omission, selectors have gone for plenty of familiar faces with veteran David Warner likely to open the batting alongside Travis Head. The fast-bowling attack will be led by Test and one-day skipper Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

Marsh, who has filled in as captain since Aaron Finch retired from international cricket in February last year, has been given the role on a permanent basis, though he is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Chair of selectors George Bailey says Smith was part of “long conversations” but that the squad is going in a different direction.

“We’ve had a handful of players – probably more than some other countries – that have been multi-format for a long, long period of time, and it’s natural that some of those will start to drop off,” he said, while addressing why Fraser-McGurk has missed out on a place.

"Ultimately in that squad we're looking to get … all 15 players on the selection table for each and every game to be able to have those discussions to structure up the way we want.

"We think we've got some other guys that have got some good flexibility around where they bat.

"As part of the build-up, we've seen some players perform in some different batting roles to cover off any eventuality."

Australia, who will be attempting to win their second T20 World Cup, start their campaign against Oman in Barbados in the early hours of June 6, UK time.

Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

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