Aaron Finch picks his Australia XI for T20 World Cup 2024, excludes Steve Smith

Aaron Finch has picked his Australia XI for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the United States of America in June. Ace batter Steve Smith was left out of Finch's playing XI for the 2024 competition. Finch, Australia's 2021 T20 World Cup-winning captain, feels wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis can play the finisher role and would offer greater adaptability than Smith.

Smith is eager to join the squad for the World Cup but he doesn't have recent experience in the format. The 34-year-old has not participated in the Big Bash League (BBL) or the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the last two years. Soon after Australia's title-winning campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the right-handed batter took part in the T20I series against India. He has not been selected for the T20I series against the West Indies, which starts on February 9, but will take part in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand from February 21. 

"I probably don't have him (Steve Smith) in the 11 at the moment and the reason for that is I think there's enough batting firepower right there in the list... Josh Inglis, he's so versatile that he can almost play the role that Steve Smith plays but also a finisher as well," Finch told ESPNcricinfo.

Marcus Stoinis was also named in Finch's XI, but he stated that, depending on the situation, spin all-rounder Matt Short may take his place. "I've got Marcus Stoinis and Matt Short in. In the Caribbean, the wickets can spin a lot as well. I'd like to have the option of Matt Short there or Marcus Stoinis if you feel like you need that extra cover with the ball," the former cricketer added.

Aaron Finch's T20 World Cup XI for Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis/Matthew Short, Tim David, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood