Australia have announced a 14-member squad for the upcoming ODI series. Skipper Pat Cummins returns after a break while Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head have been rested. Both Marsh and Head have been granted paternity leave.
Cummins was rested for Australia’s tour of the UK where they played three T20Is against Scotland (won 3-0) before facing England in three T20Is (drew 1-1) and five ODIs (won 3-2). The last time he played an international game was back in June during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. His last competitive cricket game was in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in July.
The other two big fast bowlers (Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood) have also been included in the side. Given the absence of the aforementioned experienced players, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short will get another opportunity at the top of the order. Aaron Hardie and Cooper Connolly retain their places from the squad that toured the UK last month. The rest of the side is on the expected lines. Cameron Green was not picked as he has been ruled out for at least six months due to a back stress fracture.
This is going to be Australia’s last ODI series before the 2025 Champions Trophy which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in February-March. The chairman of selectors George Bailey added that the focus is on the big event next year.
“This is our last ODI series before the Champions Trophy (in Pakistan). The balance of the squad was focused on that as well as continuing to focus on preparation of individuals for the upcoming Test summer. We view this is an opportunity to expand on that achievement in preparation for next February in Pakistan,” chief selector George Bailey was quoted saying in the press conference after the squad was announced.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis (wicket-keeper), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott.
Australia’s only white-ball series of the 2024-25 summer
Australia will play three ODIs against Pakistan to kickstart the men’s international summer at home. It starts on the 4th of November at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before the Adelaide Oval (8th November) and the new Perth Stadium (10th November) host the remaining games of the 50-over format. It will be followed by a three-match T20I series from 14th to 18th November.
The Pakistan series is the only white-ball series scheduled for the summer as all eyes will be on the big Border-Gavaskar Trophy which starts on the 22nd of November. Australia are scheduled to fly to Sri Lanka for two Tests before the 2025 Champions Trophy.
