Steve Smith and David Warner completed their remarkable comeback from the ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket when they were selected in defending champion Australia’s World Cup squad on Monday.
But there was no room for Josh Hazlewood or Peter Handscomb at the tournament in England and Wales.
It is the first call-up for the former captain and his deputy since the expiry last month of year-long bans for their part in “sandpapergate” that had wide repercussions for Australian cricket.
Both players were eligible for the final two games of Australia’s recent limited-overs tour against Pakistan, but selectors preferred that they ease themselves back at the Twenty20 Indian Premier League.
Of the squad, captain Aaron Finch says: “As far as I’m concerned they have done everything that’s been asked of them in the last 12 months.
“Knowing them both personally as I do, I don’t think there will be any issues whatsoever. They are both great, great guys.”