Australia will not rest Steve Smith for the T-20 World Cup - McDonald

Australia's assistant coach Andrew McDonald has made it clear that they’ll select that best squad for the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in India later this year. Earlier, few reports suggested that Australia might rest Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood for the T20 World Cup as they want them to be fresh for the Ashes. However, McDonald has quashed all such claims. Australia are currently playing a 5 Test series against the Kiwis in New Zealand and have lost the first two matches.

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"I’d say if they’re (Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood) in the best T20 side or squad, they’ll be there, and we’ll just have to work out ways to prepare those guys who aren’t playing in the XI at the time,” Australia's assistant coach said.

He further revealed that they might select an extended squad due to Covid-19 which will allow them to prepare for the Ashes even in India.

"We’re probably expecting to have extended squads through this COVID period as well. We could end up having 18, 19, 20 players in the squad as opposed to what we’ve become accustomed with the 15-man squad. So I think the squads will be a little bit deeper; therefore, you might have some options to train guys in India at the time to get ready for the Ashes as well," added McDonald.

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Steve Smith along with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc is not part of the 5 match T20I series against New Zealand. Talking about the same, McDonald said that it’s important to manage the workload of the players. He further added that every team is getting better at rotating the players.

"Teams are pretty good at managing that (rotating players). It’s something that’s been going on for quite a period of time," McDonald said.

Australia are yet to win a T20 World Cup. They came close in 2010 but lost to England in the final.