MELBOURNE: David Warner and Pat Cummins were among six top names to opt out of Australia’s white-ball tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh on Wednesday, while Steve Smith will be missing injured.

Those who asked not to be considered have spent considerable time in bio-secure bubbles over the past few months, and it has taken its toll.

Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Jhye Richardson and Kane Richardson also withdrew, leaving head coach Justin Langer without many of his best players four months before the Twenty20 World Cup.

Smith has an elbow injury, so the decision to leave him out was made on medical grounds.

National Selector Trevor Hohns said he was ‘naturally disappointed’ but “respects the decisions of those who have opted out of this tour”.

“International tours in the time of Covid-19 undoubtedly present many additional challenges for athletes,” he added. “They also present opportunities for others and, in this case, the chance to push for selection in the Australian men’s T20 World Cup squad later this year and beyond.”

Cummins, Maxwell, Warner, Stoinis and Jhye Richardson were only released from 14 days’ hotel quarantine late last month after fleeing to the Maldives from the Covid-ravaged Indian Premier League.

They spent 10 days in the Maldives before they could get a plane home home after Canberra shut the nation’s border to arrivals from India.

Kane Richardson left hotel quarantine several weeks earlier than the rest of the IPL contingent, but he has a young child and has opted out.

Jason Behrendorff, Moises Henriques and Riley Meredith have all agreed to tour despite also going through quarantine after the IPL.

Adam Zampa and Andrew Tye escaped India just before Australia closed its border and they too will play.

Included in the touring group is veteran all-rounder Dan Christian, who could play his first match for Australia since October 2017. Alex Carey also returns to the white-ball squad, while Josh Phillippe keeps his spot after debuting in New Zealand at the end of last summer.

Pace bowler Wes Agar is aiming for an international debut while touring with brother Ashton Agar, while Ben McDermott, son of former pace bowler Craig McDermott, was also included.

Cricket Australia’s Head of Sports Science and Sports Medicine Alex Kountouris said player welfare was paramount.

“The pandemic is now into its second year and that has meant athletes and staff, particularly those who participate internationally, have spent lengthy periods in bio-secure hubs, where freedom of movement is restricted, and hard quarantine,” he said. “CA has maintained from the start of the pandemic that we would support players or staff members through the additional demands placed upon them by hubs and quarantine.”

The squad, captained by Aaron Finch, will leave for the West Indies on June 28 and play five Twenty20 Internationals in St Lucia followed by three One-day Internationals in Barbados.

There is still some doubt over the Bangladesh leg, Cricket Australia said, but if confirmed will comprise five T20 Internationals.

Squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Dan Christian, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Riley Meredith, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2021