The Australian selectors announced the 13 member squad for the One-day International series against India starting from 12th January.
The team will be captained by Steve Smith. Uncapped players Scott Boland and Joel Paris have been included in the squad. David Warner and Aaron Finch will open the innings for Australia. In the all-rounders category Shane Watson has not been given a place in the team.
“Steven has made it very clear that he doesn’t want a break. He’s Australian captain and he wants to play just about all the time if he can unless we’re advised by the medical staff that he absolutely needs a rest. But he has made it very clear that he wants to play.”
“There’s no doubt we want to give Josh a rest, he’s very important to us, as we all know,” Hohns said. “We will certainly manage him, as per what the medicos’ advice is. But with the first couple of games in Brisbane and Perth, we thought it was essential to have him in the squad initially because he normally bowls very well at both of those cities. Kane Richardson also makes into the squad. With Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner in the allrounder’s spot, and if we also put Glenn Maxwell then the bases for allrounder position is covered. Watto by no means is out of the picture either. It’s a matter of him showing us what he can do.”
Nathan Lyon has also not been included in the squad. Aaron Finch will be making a comeback into the squad after missing the series against England with a fractured foot and Shaun Marsh has also been included. Joe Burns, Ashton Agar and Mitchell Starc has been left out of the team. Here we look at the team.
Australia ODI squad: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith(c), Shaun Marsh, Geroge Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade(wk), James Faulkner, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazelwood, Scott Boland, Joel Paris.