In a strategic move to nurture emerging leadership, Australia&rsquo;s selectors have appointed Matt Renshaw and Jason Sangha as captains for the upcoming Australia A series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin.
Renshaw will lead the team in the three-match 50-over series beginning Friday at Marrara Oval, while Sangha will take over for the two four-day matches starting July 13 and 20.
Notably, selectors opted to bypass seasoned leader Nathan McSweeney&mdash;South Australia&rsquo;s Sheffield Shield-winning skipper and a regular Australia A captain&mdash;choosing instead to hand opportunities to players with less leadership exposure.
Chair of selectors George Bailey said the decision reflects a developmental focus: &ldquo;The Australia A programme is designed to provide players with leadership experience. Nathan will continue to contribute his experience and support Matt and Jason throughout the series.&rdquo;
Renshaw, 29, better known for his red-ball prowess with 14 Test caps, has limited captaincy experience, having led Somerset in two Royal London Cup matches in 2022. However, his List A numbers are strong&mdash;especially at No. 4, where he averages 45.07 with a strike rate of 97.50. With Australia set to revamp their ODI setup following the retirements of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, Renshaw&rsquo;s recent white-ball form and adaptability make him a strong contender for future national duty.
Sangha, 25, brings significantly more captaincy experience, having led New South Wales, Sydney Thunder in the BBL, and Australia&rsquo;s U-19 World Cup squad. After a prolific Sheffield Shield campaign for South Australia, where he scored 704 runs at 78.22 including three centuries, Sangha is being seen as a potential Test middle-order option.
While selectors continue searching for long-term top-order prospects, Sangha&rsquo;s consistent performances at No. 4&mdash;averaging 45.25&mdash;make a compelling case.
The series also opens the door for other players to impress. McSweeney, Kurtis Patterson, and Jake Weatherald will look to reinforce their red-ball credentials, while rising stars Campbell Kellaway and Oliver Peake will aim to shine under the guidance of first-time Australia A coach Tim Paine.
Australia A one-day squad: Sam Elliott, Matt Gilkes, Bryce Jackson, Zanden Jeh, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Ollie Peake, Josh Philippe, Jack Nisbet, Matt Renshaw (c), Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Billy Stanlake, Henry Thornton.
Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara (c), Lasith Croospulle, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Sonal Dinusha, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Shiran Fernando, Isitha Wijesundara, Pramod Madushan, Mohamed Shiraz, Dushan Hemantha, Wanuja Sahan. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

Renshaw, Sangha to lead Aus A vs Sri Lanka A

Australia A names Renshaw, Sangha as captains for white-ball and red-ball series against Sri Lanka

Renshaw, Sangha to lead Aus A vs Sri Lanka A

Australia A names Renshaw, Sangha as captains for white-ball and red-ball series against Sri Lanka

July 4, 2025 | 16:26 IST