Australia recall Ben McDermott, rest David Warner for Sri Lanka T20s

McDermott is rewarded for an excellent Big Bash season with Hobart Hurricanes, during which he cracked 577 runs at a strike rate nudging 154 and an average above 48

Ben McDermott and Travis Head have been recalled to the Australia squad for the upcoming T20 series against Sri Lanka.

McDermott is rewarded for an excellent Big Bash season with Hobart Hurricanes, during which he cracked 577 runs at a strike rate nudging 154 and an average above 48.

His 19 previous Australia appearances - 17 in T20s and two in ODIs - did not bring a score above 35.

"I don't think that I wasn't ready to play for Australia (before), but I do feel ready now," he said on Tuesday. "I feel like I'm at the top of my game.

^{Ben McDermott is in the Australia squad for the Sri Lanka T20s (Mark Brake/Getty Images)}

"I've developed a lot of learnings through those experiences. They haven't been good ones, I won't shy away from that, but I've definitely learned from those experiences and hopefully I come back well.”

Head, meanwhile, gets his first T20I nod in four years after impressing against the red ball during the crushing 4-0 Ashes Test series win over England.

They are part of a 16-man squad for the five-match campaign, which is due to begin on February 11 and last until February 20.

David Warner and Mitchell Marsh do not feature in the squad.

Warner is enjoying a period of rest ahead of the tour of Pakistan, while Marsh has an injury concern.

The allrounder has picked up a hamstring problem and is a doubt for Perth Scorchers ahead of the Big Bash final on Friday.

^{Head coach Justin Langer sits out the series (William West/AFP via Getty Images)}

Josh Hazlewood is recalled after missing the majority of the Ashes with a side strain.

"I've got a couple of weeks up my sleeve to get right and should be fine," he said.

"It's been a frustrating couple of weeks, no doubt (but) watching away on TV with the rest of the country was fantastic. Watching us dominate all five Test matches was awesome."

Justin Langer, the head coach, will also sit out the Sri Lanka series as he takes leave ahead of the trip to Pakistan. Assistant Andrew McDonald will manage the side in his absence.

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott , Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

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