Usman Khawaja will make his comeback to the Australian ODI side for their upcoming three-game series against India as one of a number of changes made by selectors.
Khawaja’s last ODI came against Pakistan nearly two years ago, but the left-hander will make his return to the national limited-overs setup for the India series, which begins on Saturday week at the SCG.
Australia’s premier batsman with Steve Smith and David Warner suspended, Khawaja missed the ODIs against South Africa late last year as he recovered from a knee injury, and his inclusion will bolster the side’s batting stocks.
While Khawaja is back in the side, there was no such luck for his big-hitting state teammate, Chris Lynn. Lynn, arguably the cleanest striker of the ball in the country, has been dropped just half a year out from the World Cup, with Peter Handscomb included in his place, a move that represents a shift away from a batting line-up stocked with explosive hitters.
With the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood all set for a stint on the sidelines to rest during the one-dayers, Peter Siddle been handed a shock recall. Siddle hasn’t played an ODI in more than eight years, but has been in good white-ball form for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash.
Siddle will lead an inexperienced pace bowling line-up in the absence of Australia’s Test quicks. Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake and Jason Behrendorff are the three other seamers in the squad, but there’s far more experience in the spin department thanks to the inclusions of Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa.
Nathan Coulter-Nile, a regular member of Australia’s white-ball squads when fit, has been left out of the squad on account of some lower back soreness.
Looking further up the batting order, captain Aaron Finch will open the batting, likely alongside Khawaja, and both Marsh brothers have also been selected, with Mitchell recalled as one of two vice-captains. The other, Alex Carey, has retained his place as the side’s wicketkeeper, and Melbourne Stars all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell have both kept their spots.
There was no place for D’Arcy Short and Matthew Wade despite their excellent starts to the Big Bash season with the Hobart Hurricanes, and Travis Head and Ashton Agar – the latter of whom has found himself progressively further from the Australian sides over the past year or so – were both dropped.
Australian ODI squad for series vs India
Aaron Finch (c) (Victoria)
Usman Khawaja (Queensland)
Shaun Marsh (Western Australia)
Peter Handscomb (Victoria)
Glenn Maxwell (Victoria)
Marcus Stoinis (Western Australia)
Mitch Marsh (vc) (Western Australia)
Alex Carey (vc) (South Australia)
Jhye Richardson (Western Australia)
Billy Stanlake (Queensland)
Jason Behrendorff (Western Australia)
Peter Siddle (Victoria)
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Adam Zampa (South Australia)
dan ced
Guest
I think the selectors will put a premium on wickets, given how they struggled to get them in the tests. Tepid economy of our bowlers was the #1 issue in this test series I feel. Agar has been solid but not earth shattering in my view. How's Turner's bowling these days? He looks like the sort of thrashy playmaker AUS like selecting, but seems to have some sublime skill tucked up his sleeve too.
dan ced
Guest
I think with Pattinson's neutered action and pace, that he's more competition for Mitch Marsh and Stoinis than a genuine strike bowler. His batting has come along in leaps and bounds in his return from injury.
dan ced
Guest
I don't like the idea of Siddle in the test team, but he's been in great form in county short form.. and one of the best BBL bowlers in the past season and a half.. it's a selection based on SOME logic. Stanlake on the other hand has been bowling trash.
dan ced
Guest
Stanlake is an odd selection, he's giving away so many runs for the Strikers that he's close to being dropped. Siddle has got great County and BBL form behind him so not a stupid selection at all (I wouldn't have him anywhere near the test squad though). I was hoping to see someone like Weatherald get a chance, Handscomb has been rewarded for mediocrity again, astounding selection. I do agree with Short and Lynn being dropped, both should be in our T20 team though.. they didn't seem up to standard in ODI's, they may get another opportunity at another stage.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Lyon hasn't been playing in the games Agar has. Agar has been our most economical bowler. Read...don't guess what is being said.
Rob
Guest
The last 3, ODI Centuries Shaun Marsh has scored have resulted in Australia losing. Shaun's SR. 81 ensures Australia struggle to post winning score. The last Shaun Marsh century 151 (151 balls) that resulted in a win was against Scotland in 2013. That's 5 years ago. The victorious World Cup team in 2015 didn't contain Shaun Marsh?
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
Not true, Don. Lyon's ODI economy rate is 4.83 compared to Agar's 5.75 RPO. In fact, Lyon betters Agar in average and strike rate as well. That's why, as 13th Man said, Lyon is a better alternative. But hey, I love the way you make up $h*t!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Its not hard to 'work out'. He has the better economy rate. ODI bowling is about economy rate.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Is your taste for cricket really that shallow?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Not exactly sure how you worked this out. Maxwell bowling record is better than Agar, slightly worse economy, Maxwell gets more wickets. Zampa has bowled worse than both at one day cricket, but has a great T20 record. Lyon is the most economical in one dayers, has not played much T20 but got carted. It makes the most sense to bowl Maxwell, as he is in the team anyway. Zampa should be left out of one dayers definetly.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He has been Australia's most economical bowler in every white ball game he has played. That's his primary role. He has also been one of our most reliable batsmen...when they give him a game. Just a staggering omission.
CUW
Roar Rookie
i think someone has pointed out the main reason for the selection dilemma - no 50 overs cricket in the reeccent past and only T20 now going on. so one can understand why they have picked good T20 bowlers - but im not sure if they have a 10 overs performance in them. i remember seeing Stanlake in in 50 overs match ( forget which one ) - where his pace dropped drastically at the death overs and was erratic with line and length. also wonder why they picked an old guy rather than giving a chance to a young guy - unless Sid is among the probables for the world cup. i wonder what happened to the old batters like Ferguson , Baily , Wade , who are well suited for 50 overs and are experienced. looking at the way the test batting list has crummbled - am wondering who will anchor this squad to 50 overs ?? aussy must be hoping for a century from Sean Marsh every match :P
CUW
Roar Rookie
They’ve realized at least that Short, Lynn and McDermott are not quite up to this format Internationally yet, ..... actually all look good in T20s in aussy - or other fast paced wickets with good bounce and less turn. Both LYNN and SHORT were way short in IPL once the teams used spinners even in power plays. its the same with WI opener Evan Lewis - just not good against spinners in the subcontinent. so i wonder why they dropped Head - he can handle spin better than those at the top.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Pattinson would've been a far more positive selection than Siddle. Pattinson and Jhye together create a pretty handy duo and would be my next two cabs off the rank in our first choice bowling attack.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
But of those 3 he is the worst spinner which would be his primary role. I can understand him not being picked. Lyon is a better alternative.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
MMarsh isn't in form. His ODI record is serviceable but there are better players in better form currently. Wade and Short being two such examples. Stoinis is a better bowler and anyway and I can't see them both playing in the same side so id say he won't be first choice but it just seems like an odd selection just as Labuschagne was for the test. S Marsh however, his spot cannot be questioned after the hundreds vs England and South Africa.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I don’t understand the omission of Agar. Lyon and Zampa aren’t bad picks but why invest all those games into Agar in 2017-18 (for a solid enough return) only to ditch him for Lyon? Agar is likely to be more economical than either of them. He’s also the best bat and fielder of the three.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I don’t think he’s eligible until 2020.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Mitch Marsh has had plenty of practice for "the shorter version of the game" as his Test innings have been of a short duration.
Phillip
Guest
You have to roll your eyes at some of the comments here, only issue I'm seeing is the choice of bowlers. The negative remarks about Siddle come from uninformed armchair selecters however the question thats needed to be answered is Pattinson's future, the bloke would've been a good spearhead for these one dayers but unfortunately none of the bowlers will be up to this challenge me thinks.