Pat Cummins will take charge of Australia’s ODI side for the first time since lifting the 2023 men’s Cricket World Cup trophy, as a 14-player squad to take on Pakistan in three 50-over matches was named on Monday. The fast bowler was rested from Australia’s tour of England and Scotland but returns for the one-day international series on home soil in time to prepare for the upcoming Test series against India.
Mitchell Marsh led Australia on the white-ball tour of the UK but will miss the ODIs against Pakistan while on paternity leave. Explosive opener Travis Head will also take paternity leave during the same period and has not been considered for the one-day series that starts in Melbourne on 4 November.
With Marsh and Head unavailable, and veteran opener David Warner now retired, the door has opened up for Australia’s rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk to cement his place at the top of the order. The 22-year-old made his international debut in an ODI against West Indies in February and has since appeared in four T20Is during Australia’s tour of the UK, smashing a half century from 30 balls in his most recent innings against England.
Matt Short has also been selected in the squad to face Pakistan and will hope to add to his eight internationals in the format. The 28-year-old opened the batting in three of the five ODIs against England in September, top-scoring with 58 from 30 balls as Australia snatched victory under the DLS method in the last match to claim a 3-2 series win.
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been recalled after being left out of the squad that toured the UK and being dropped from Australia’s XI that won the World Cup semi-final and decider last year in India. Emerging all-rounders Cooper Connolly and Aaron Hardie are also set to press their claims for a spot in the side, while Cameron Green could not be considered due to a back stress fracture that will rule him out for the summer.
Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis has again been preferred to Alex Carey in the 50-over format, while Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne have also been selected. Australia will play Pakistan at the MCG, Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium as they look to fine-tune for the summer ahead while also casting an eye towards the next ODI tournament.
“This is our last ODI series before the Champions Trophy and the balance of the squad was focused on that as well as continuing to focus on preparation of individuals for the upcoming Test summer,” George Bailey, Australian chair of selectors, said in a statement. “The one-day side had a great result in the UK, particularly given illness and injury challenges. We view this is an opportunity to expand on that achievement in preparation for next February in Pakistan.”
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Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (capt), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
