Fiery paceman James Pattinson and offspinner Nathan Lyon have been left out of Australia’s provisional 30-man squad for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
Offspinner Glenn Maxwell, 23, and fellow Victorian Rob Quiney are the big winners.
They’re the only two members of the squad named on Wednesday who don’t have international experience.
The tournament starts in Sri Lanka on September 18. Australia, runners-up in 2010 to England in Barbados, face Ireland and West Indies in Group B.
A final squad of 15 is due to be named by August 18.
Maxwell has also been selected this week in Australia’s squad for a T20 series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in early September.
Lyon had been earmarked in February by chairman of selectors John Inverarity as a strong contender for the World T20 campaign.
Maxwell’s chances of going to Sri Lanka are firming alongside left-arm orthodox spinner Xavier Doherty and 41-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner Brad Hogg.
Selectors found no room for Pattinson, whose impact in T20 internationals (T20Is) has admittedly not matched last summer’s Test heroics, having claimed 26 wickets in a five-Test career.
Inverarity has gambled on left-arm quick Dirk Nannes, 36, whose recent form is a tally of four wickets in nine matches for Surrey in the English domestic T20.
Nannes hasn’t played a T20I since October 2010, which is the same year the former Dutch international topped the wicket-taking tally with 14 at 13.07 in the World T20.
Seamer Ben Laughlin, whose only T20I appearance was three years ago, is another interesting selection.
Inverarity is placing a premium on flamboyance, which is a quality Maxwell could potentially deliver to the squad as an athletic fieldsman and explosive hitter.
“A great deal of flamboyant cricketing talent will be on display and some games will be turned on their heads by 10 minutes of brilliance,” Inverarity said.
“The squad announced today is full of talent, enterprise and all-round strength.”
Left-arm spinner Stephen O’Keefe joked he might need to start a Facebook campaign to make the final squad.
“Looking at some of the young talent going around, Glenn Maxwell has shown he’s one of the up-and-coming stars of Australian cricket as well. He deserves his spot,” O’Keefe said.
“And there’s Steve Smith and Doherty doing well in that spinning department.”
Australia’s World T20 squad: George Bailey, Travis Birt, Dan Christian, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Laughlin, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Dirk Nannes, Stephen O’Keefe, Tim Paine, Rob Quiney, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.
