Australia announces Twenty20 squad for cricket series against Sri Lanka

Australia has named its 13-man Twenty20 squad to face Sri Lanka later this month, with 36-year-old Michael Klinger and injured big hitter Chris Lynn both surprise features in the extended lineup.

Announced by Cricket Australia on Wednesday, the squad will not include a number of big names, likely because the Test tour of India overlaps with the three-match T20 series beginning on Feb. 17.

Lynn, who stole headlines throughout the domestic Big Bash League (BBL) tournament for his entrancing knocks, has been selected for the side but will need to face a number of fitness tests ahead of the opening match in Melbourne, while Klinger was selected after a standout year with the Perth Scorchers, according to interim Australian selector Trevor Hohns on Wednesday.

"(Klinger) has been a very good player in this form of the game for some time now. He has a history of strong performances in T20 competitions in the UK (Britain) and in the BBL, including the match-winning innings for the Perth Scorchers to secure this year's BBL title," Hohns told Cricket.com.au.

Overall, Hohns said the squad was a good "blend" of youth and experience, which he says will hopefully bump Australia up the international T20 rankings.

"With Australia currently ranked number six in this format and with a number of our frontline players preparing for the India Test series, we have chosen a squad with a good blend of experience combined with several younger players in an effort to improve our performance and therefore our T20 ranking," Hohns said.

The squad will be captained by opening batsman Aaron Finch and also features potential debutants in bowlers Billy Stanlake, Jyhe Richardson and Ashton Turner.

"Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson and Billy Stanlake round off the bowlers in the squad, all maintaining a balance of excellent economy and wickets in this format, which is essential for a winning side," Hohns said.

Meanwhile, despite playing a starring role in the Perth Scorchers' third BBL title win last week, feared Australian pace bowler Mitchell Johnson was not selected for the squad.

There were rumors that Johnson, 35, who retired from international cricket in 2015, would return to the T20 side after a stellar BBL tournament, in which he took 13 wickets at an average of 15.4 and an economy rate of less than a run a ball.

Despite the snub, Johnson said he was happy to remain retired from international competition.

"It takes a lot of pressure off me. I was hoping I wouldn't be asked so it's worked out perfectly for me," Fairfax Media quoted Johnson as saying on Wednesday.

"I did consider it, the thought of it.

"In the end, I've done my dash for Australia and I think it'd be a bit of backward step if I took up the opportunity."

"So I'm happy with the decision."

The three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka begins in Melbourne on Feb. 17.

The Australian squad includes captain Aaron Finch, Patrick Cummins, James Faulkner, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Michael Klinger, Chris Lynn, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

source: Xinhua