Injury-prone speedster Pat Cummins has been included in Australia’s ODI squad for the upcoming Chapell-Hadlee series against New Zealand.
Cummins hasn’t represented Australia since an ODI in September 2015, during which he suffered the back injury which has kept him out of national colours until now.
“It is fantastic to see Pat back in Australian colours again,” Australia’s interim chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns, said.
“It has been a frustrating period for him but we are certainly excited to have him fit and firing ahead of this series.”
Cummins impressed in this year’s Matador Cup, finishing as the competition’s equal-highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps in six matches.
Headlining the squad alongside Cummins are all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright.
24-year-old Cartwright has been touted as a potential Australian representative since making his maiden first-class century for the Warriors during the 2015-16 Sheffield Shield season, which came off the back of an impressive Matador Cup campaign for the Cricket Australia XI.
Maxwell was controversially dropped for the ODI series in Sri Lanka, a decision made all the more eye-raising by the Victorian’s stunning performances during the Twenty20 series on the same tour.
Maxwell made an unbeaten 145 not out in the first T20 and followed it up with 66 in the second match of the series, but he was still left out of the subsequent ill-fated tour of South Africa, which saw Australia trounced 5-0 in the series by the hosts.
Steve Smith will skipper the squad against New Zealand with David Warner retaining his spot as the side’s vice-captain, and they will be joined by fellow Test regulars Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
All-rounders James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh will both make their return from injury with the national side during the series, while the batting options are boosted by the presence of Aaron Finch, Travis Head and experienced campaigner George Bailey.
Matthew Wade, fresh off his recall to the Test squad, has been named to keep wicket during the series and Redbacks leggie Adam Zampa is the side’s sole specialist spinner.
The series begins on Sunday, December 4 at the SCG.
Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), George Bailey, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.
Chappell-Hadlee ODI series fixtures
1st ODI: Sunday, December 4, SCG, 2:20pm (AEDT)
2nd ODI: Tuesday, December 6, Manuka Oval, 2:20pm (AEDT)
3rd ODI: Friday, December 9, MCG, 2:20pm (AEDT)
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