The strategic importance of the upcoming Ashes series against England has prompted key Australian cricketers to leave the ongoing T20 series in India midway. The players are prioritizing red-ball preparation by returning home to participate in the domestic Sheffield Shield tournament.
According to Cricket Australia, Travis Head has been released from the T20 squad and will miss the final two matches against India. This move allows him to join other probable Test players, including Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, and Josh Hazlewood, for the next round of the Sheffield Shield.
In a clear indication of their focus on the Test series, several players have opted for red-ball cricket over the white-ball format. Josh Hazlewood and Shane Abbott have also been withdrawn from the T20 squad to take part in the domestic matches.
Additionally, Tanveer Sangha has been released to play in the One-Day Cup, while Ben Dwarshuis has been added to the T20 squad for the remaining games.
The five-match T20 series between Australia and India is currently tied 1-1, with the fourth and fifth matches scheduled for November 6 and 8.
