Having won the 2023 ODI World Cup, Australia will square off against Pakistan in three ODIs next month in the comfort of their home grounds. The first ODI is set for the Melbourne Cricket Ground for November 4, while the other two are scheduled for the dates of November 8 and 10 in Adelaide and Perth, respectively.
In his place, the six-time world champions will be guided by their star pacer Pat Cummins, who has not played any ODI since the World Cup finals last year, but opening batter Travis Head and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will not be part of the series due to paternity leaves.
In their absence, Matthew Short will co-partner with Jake Fraser McGurk who opens the innings, the Delhi capitals batter. The 22-year-old right-hand batter Fraser-McGurk played ODI his first match against the West Indies February 2024 and has recorded 51 runs over two games.
He then made a big name for himself in the IPL 2024 for the Delhi Capitals but failed to carry his show up in the T20I series against Scotland and England last month. After being overlooked for the selection in the ODI series against England, he is now handed another opportunity that could earn him a spot in the white-ball setup.
Joined by Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in the ODI squad is Pat Cummins, while Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne also make up the middle order, Glenn Maxwell is in the squad as an all-rounder, Adam Zampa has come in as a spinner while Josh Inglis is the wicketkeeper-batsman.
Marcus Stoinis, a fast-bowling all-rounder, also returns to the squad in Australia’s last series of ODIs immediately before the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year. The LSG all-rounder had shown his capabilities in the T20 World Cup 2024 but was left out of the ODI side for the series against England last month.
Youngster Cooper Connolly, who recently made his ODI and T20I debut last month, allrounder Aaron Hardie and Sean Abbott are also part of the ODI squad selected for the series against Pakistan. However Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey has been excluded as he is still in training for the Border Gavaska Trophy in the Shefield Shield competition.
Australian Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: “This is our last ODI series before the Champions Trophy and the balance of the squad was focused on that whereas also concentrating on the preparation of individuals for the upcoming Test Summer.”
“The one-day side had a great result in the UK particularly with the illness and injury challenges. We view this is a chance to build on that success in readiness for Pakistan next February.”
Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (C), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis (WK), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
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