Chris Lynn has been rewarded for his jaw-dropping Big Bash League form with inclusion in the Australian ODI squad to play Pakistan in a five-match series start Friday 13 January.
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Usman Khawaja has also been recalled to the squad, while Billy Stanlake is the third change from the squad that played New Zealand across three matches in December 2016.
“We believe this squad is an exciting combination that covers all bases for us over the course of the five matches against Pakistan,” said selector Trevor Hohns.
“Billy Stanlake is an exciting prospect who bowls with genuine pace and is a player who has made a terrific return to action for the Adelaide Strikers in the KFC Big Bash League after a lengthy time out through injury. Billy himself and the medical staff involved in his recovery have done a great job, he’s back playing again and playing well and we believe that now is the right time to give him a chance to stretch himself.
“Chris Lynn is in superb form for the Brisbane Heat and although that is a different form of the game we believe it is right that we give him the chance to show whether he can convert his wonderful ball-striking ability to ODIs.
“Usman Khawaja has been in excellent touch throughout this Test summer, is able to bat anywhere in the top order and deserves another chance to demonstrate his ODI credentials.”
George Bailey and Aaron Finch are the unfortunate players to make way, and at 34 and 30 will only have more and more questions asked about the future of their international careers.
Hilton Cartwright will also miss despite making his Test debut for Australia at the SCG this week.
“Both George Bailey and Aaron Finch have been prominent players in the ODI squad over the past few years but both of them have missed out on places in this squad.
“George has scored one fifty in his past 10 ODIs and, while his form has not been disastrous, it has not been to his usual standard so we have decided to look at younger players in the middle order in this instance.
“Aaron, across the past four series in the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Chappell-Hadlee Series, has scored four fifties in his last 18 innings. I have spoken to both players and they understand our perspective as selectors.
“Hilton Cartwright is unlucky to miss out having been included in the previous squad for the Chappell-Hadlee Series but we believe we are well-served with all-round options, with Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner and Travis Head.”
Australia’s 14-man ODI squad
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Mitch Marsh, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, James Faulkner, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake.
Australia vs Pakistan 5-match ODI series
Match 1 – Friday January 13, 2:20pm at the Gabba
Match 2 – Sunday January 15, 2:20pm at the MCG
Match 3 – Thursday January 19, 2:20pm at the WACA
Match 4 – Sunday January 22, 2:20pm at the SCG
Match 5 – Thursday January 26, 2:20pm at Adelaide Oval
All times are AEDT.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Ha, you still managed to make 2 days more than me.... :-)
Mark
Guest
Can we stop with the Lynnsanity shtick. It got old in 2012.
AlanC
Guest
And the wombat answers on your behalf? Hehehehehe, sure.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Probably because he's also a bit long in the tooth for 2019.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Dear oh dear. What a strange comment. So he can bat long periods of time and can also bash six's, therefore no good at ODI cricket. Very strange.
qwetzen
Guest
Why don't you let God handle blasphemy? Isn't he omnipotent?
Basil
Guest
Yeah it's great watching Lynn beat up on predominately club level bowlers rather than being tested by an International attack. You should see me smash my 7yr old sons bowling in the backyard.... I'm so good.
Basil
Guest
Take it easy on the blasphemy mate.
Basil
Guest
Got my vote.
Basil
Guest
Another disciple of Warne. Why don't we just make Swepson captain as he's the greatest talent out there and bring back Michael Beer?
Annoyedofit
Guest
Yep because he plays for QLD and not NSW is the reason he hasn't played much international cricket. Never mind the fact that he can't keep fit. Just another conspiracy. Jesus Christ
Felix
Guest
No - my comment was in reference to the OP who queried Lynn's ability. I'm saying he's more than equipped for the task, and that Pakistan have been on the slide in short form since their quarter final appearance, and that Cricket Australia trying to wedge a meaningless ODI series in to a summer schedule exploding with cricket is a waste of resources. Everyone would be more entertained with the Aussie players going back to their respective BBL teams than watching Warner flay pies to all parts of a 1/4 full MCG.
AlanKC
Guest
Are you "Felix" also?
Kawanabanana
Guest
I like it. Just the right combo for ODI.
Matthew H
Guest
Got to be based on the last ODI's as well, Head was good in that series.
qwetzen
Guest
Look Dexter, I'm happy that I made it to Jan 7 before my first major stuff-up of the year. That's a PB you know.
jamesb
Guest
Actually, many of the BBL games have been lopsided. You have a fair idea of who is going to win the game halfway through the team batting second. But I do agree about the BBL been ripped off with the absence of players like Lynn.
anon
Roar Pro
Really disappointed to hear this. I feel like BBL fans are being robbed. I was looking forward to watching Lynn display his skill and creativity in the BBL for the rest of the season. Now I have to watch him keep his instincts in check and push the ball around unimaginatively during the middle overs of one dayers. Ultimately this series will be another 4-1 or 5-0 whitewash of Pakistan. A series played in front of crowds like 20k at the MCG, 15k at the SCG. Meanwhile, the BBL will packing in the punters night after night, dishing up close contests, explosive hitting, and genuine excitement on and off the field. People love to complain about BBL matches being pointless, but no series could be more meaningless than the upcoming 5 game series against Pakistan. My prediction now is a 20k crowd for the MCG match, with 5-10k of the crowd being Pakistani migrants.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
You know it's the ODI side right??
Immy
Guest
If Lynn was from NSW he'd be playing for Australia already a lot more. Great to see him get a hit. He just needs confidence to get the best out of him... it worked for Warner who was also just a T20 thrasher when he started