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.
Australian cricket squad for Chappell-Hadlee ODI series
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)
Basil
Guest
What? ....No Maddinson?
BurgyGreen
Guest
Pleased that Cartwright has been recognised, but at the same time I'd prefer he, Maxwell and Cummins to be playing Shield cricket ahead of the India tour. I don't think Head is international quality at the moment. Needs to score some proper runs in domestic cricket rather than a scintillating ton every now and then.
matth
Guest
Pretty good squad. Khawaja is unlucky but would have been back up to Warner/Finch anyway. I think Head is a bit of a myth at this point, with the hype far outweighing the performances. I hope this changes otherwise Ashton Agar might be worth a run as the lower middle order slogger/spinner. I wish Chris Lynn could stay fit enough to get the kind of run that Head has.
matth
Guest
There was a limit on the number of characters before he was rotated out
jameswm
Roar Guru
OK putting it in some kind of order. 4 all rounders! 1. Warner 2. Finch 3. Smith 4. Bailey/Head 5. Maxwell 6. Cartwright or MMarsh 7. Wade - would love to have seen Handscomb 8-10 - 3 of Faulkner, Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood 11. Zampa We really need all rounders at 5 and 6, so we have 6 bowlers. So two of Marsh, Maxwell and Cartwright play. Happy to see Cummins, Cartwright and Maxwell there.
josh
Roar Rookie
Good squad
Dan
Guest
He was restricted to shorts form texts.
Craig Swanson
Guest
Mine would have been same as yours except Handscomb for Wade.
Craig Swanson
Guest
Cummo is back!!! Finally some Aussie firepower. to rattle the cages of our opposition. He looks just as fast as ever. Now he has to stay on the paddock for the summer to get back his baggy green. Pleased for West Aussie Hilton Cartwright.. earned his cap on strength of his A series in the Winter. I had hoped that Jason Behrendorff and possibly Chris Tremain would too have gotten caps. Their time will come.
Nudge
Guest
Would have been best to let Mitch Marsh play shield cricket. These guys that are on the verge of test cricket play about 3 first class games a year. Not going to get better with that
Lancey5times
Guest
What time was this squad announced? Is Cummins still in or did he injure himself texting his mum with the good news?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I think Finch and Bailey faded in the last series. Would have given U T Khawaja a run again.
dan ced
Guest
Good to see them recognise Cartwright's performances for NPS over the past couple of years! My XI would be: Warner, Harris, Klinger, Smith, Maxwell, Cartwright, Ludeman, Starc, Zampa, Hazelwood, Behrendorf I mean: Warner, Finch, Smith, Bailey, Cartwright, Maxwell, Wade, Faulkner, Starc, Hazelwood, Zampa.
Dan
Guest
Really like this squad, very keen to see Hilton Cartwright and Travis Head get a good go of it.