Experienced campaigner Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from Australia’s ODI squad to face India with his Queensland teammate Matt Renshaw in line for a debut in the format. Marnus Labuschagne‘s omission is not a huge surprise given that he has a top score of 47 in his last 10 ODI innings.
Marnus Labuschagne may not have featured against South Africa in August had Matt Short who has been included in this squad not been ruled out due to side strain. The benefit of omission is that he can continue to push for a Test recall in the Sheffield Shield having started the season with 160 against Tasmania.
Matt Renshaw’s call-up comes off the back of an impressive run in List A cricket, which also included a century for Australia A against Sri Lanka in Darwin during the winter. While he is currently opening in red ball cricket and could be an outside contender for the Ashes, he has flourished largely as a No. 3 and No. 4 in the 50-over game. Since November 2021, he has averaged 48.68 with six of his seven career centuries, and has also developed into a very effective middle order T20 batter. He was previously included in an ODI squad to face Pakistan in 2022 but didn’t get a game.
Mitchell Starc makes a comeback to ODI side
Legendary bowler Mitchell Starc who hasn’t played ODIs since last November, has also been included in what is a full-strength squad from the players available. Alex Carey will miss the opening game of the series in Perth so that he can play the second round of Sheffield Shield for South Australia, having missed the first match after his call-up to the T20I squad in New Zealand.
Fellow wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis has recovered from the calf strain that kept him out of the series and is part of both the ODIs and T20Is. The initial squad for the T20Is is only for the first two games of the series with some management to be given to multi-format players likely to happen for the final three games of those involved in the Ashes.
Glenn Maxwell remains unavailable for the T20Is due to the broken wrist he suffered ahead of the New Zealand series. Cameron Green has been included for the ODIs but won’t feature in the T20Is as he prepares to face England, and will likely play more Shield games for Western Australia.
George Bailey’s views on selection of the squad.
Speaking to reporters, chairman of selectors George Bailey said: “We have named a squad for the ODI series and first two games of the T20 series as there will be some management through the back end of the series as individuals prepare for the summer through Sheffield Shield cricket,”
George Bailey further added: “The majority of the T20 squad will remain together as it’s an important period in the build towards the World Cup next year, however we are trying to strike a balance to ensure we simultaneously prepare certain individuals for the Test series ahead,”
Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen included in ODI set-up, Nathan Ellis returns in T20Is
All-rounder Cooper Connolly who took 5/22 against South Africa in Mackay, retained his place in the ODI squad. He has enjoyed a productive tour of India with Australia A, making two half-centuries in the three-match one-day series. Mitchell Owen also has a chance to make his ODI debut after he was ruled out of the South Africa series following a concussion.
Nathan Ellis returned to the T20I squad after missing the New Zealand tour for the birth of his first child. There is no room for Sean Abbott in the ODI group but he will be part of the T20 set-up.
The ODIs against India will take place in Perth on October 19th, Adelaide on October 23rd and Sydney on October 25th. The first two T20Is are in Canberra on October 29th and Melbourne on October 31st before the final three matches take place in early November.
Marnus Labuschagne’s axe opens door for Matthew Renshaw in ODI squad
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Owen, Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
Australia T20I squad vs India for the first two matches:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
An interesting series on the cards.
The stage is set for Australia and India to clash for 3 ODIs and 5T20Is Down Under. An interesting series is on the cards as both teams are playing close to their full strength but also resting a few players due to workload management. The games will be closely fought as both teams won’t give an inch to each other. Australia are taking the ODIs seriously as we have seen with the comeback of Mitchell Starc. India have rested Bumrah for the ODIs but he will be back for T20Is.
Let us see how the game and series pans out and we expect the Aussies to give India a run for their money and for all we know may beat India in one of the series if not both. India will have to bring out their A-game to upstage Australia in Australia.