Australian all-rounder Mitch Marsh is expected to miss the white ball part of the Pakistan Tour after injuring his hip flexor at training while Josh Inglis and Ashton Agar have now been ruled out with COVID.
Matthew Renshaw is now on his way to Pakistan as the reserve wicketkeeper while Marcus Harris has also contracted the virus ahead of the Sheffield Shield final starting Thursday.
At a press conference captain Aaron Finch said that he didn’t think Marsh would be available for the series.
With two more players out it’s yet another blow for Australia’s chances and will severely test the depth of the squad with just 13 fit players currently after Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson was also ruled out of the tour.
Thankfully no other current players other than Agar and Inglis have tested positive to COVID and Renshaw will be a batting replacement as well as a backup keeper.
Richardson aggravated his hamstring at training and was replaced in the squad by Ben Dwarshuis who will get a potential chance to debut for Australia.
It means Australia will have one of their most inexperienced pace attacks in ODI history with Test trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all leaving Pakistan after the Test series.
David Warner was left out of Australia’s white-ball squad.
While explosive allrounder Glenn Maxwell will not take part in the games as he is due to get married in India in the coming days.
Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey is in the squad, despite not playing a white-ball game for Australia since August.
Star batter Steve Smith, who suffered a concussion during the Sri Lanka series, has been included despite concerns around his form in limited-overs contests.
“We have picked a talented and versatile squad with a number of challenges to juggle, including the tour structure of predominantly 50 over games, management of several multi format players in the medium to long term; and our need to build experience and depth in preparation for two short form World Cups within the next 18 months,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.
“We’re confident the squad can both compete successfully on this tour and continue our progress towards those crucial tournaments.”
The first ODI will take place in Lahore on March 29.
AUSTRALIA’S WHITE-BALL SQUAD: Aaron Finch (Vic, capt), Sean Abbott (NSW), Ashton Agar (WA), Jason Behrendorff (WA), Alex Carey (SA), Nathan Ellis (TAS), Cameron Green (WA), Travis Head (SA), Matt Renshaw (QLD), Marnus Labuschagne (QLD), Ben McDermott (TAS), Ben Dwarshuis (NSW), Steve Smith (NSW), Marcus Stoinis (WA), Adam Zampa (NSW).
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Don, it's the new Roar . Also on rugby league . It's very confusing rehashing old articles into new ones . What's the old saying if it ain't broke don't fix it .
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
So with Carey and McDermott in the squad, what's this silliness about Renshaw being reserve wicket-keeper?
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
I just don’t get it. Did Josh Hazelwood agree with the decision to not play for his country after missing the test series? And what about Boland? Isn’t he Mr Economical?
Dirk
Guest
I'm interested to know what a NSW person did to you for you to have such a big chip? Almost every 2nd post you're raving about NSW.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Graffy! What about Jeff Hammond? I’m probably into Mercantile Mutual Cup now.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It's happening on all articles. I mentioned it yesterday on Tim Miller's AFL review and a number of us have the same problem. This response, just now from you, shows you have replied. When I click on it, it just randomly scrolled to the top of the article and I had to scroll down to find it. When there are hundreds of conversations, it just scrolls to a random spot and you have to find the needle in the haystack.
matth
Roar Guru
Don;t forget Simon O'Donnell and Shaun Graf
Prez
Roar Rookie
Is there a better way to select squads as our most in form batsmen won't be playing.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
I think I know what you mean. Is it happening on all articles to you or just this one and a few random ones? There's a chance that it's only happening on articles that get updated and date changed.
Prez
Roar Rookie
I know its a different format but after his successful T20 world cup this is the time to keep Stoinis in the team. Why would Carey not play given his outstanding ODI record and his test success in Pakistan?
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
I haven't experienced the rolling scroll thing. Can you send us an email with the exact problem and what browser you're on to editorial@theroar.com.au and I'll pass it onto the developer.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Benjamin, can you fix this rolling scroll thing. Do you know what we are referring to?
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
We'd be up to 100 articles by now if we did a news story for every update from Australia's squad. :silly:
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
LOL… The question is though - will you be adult enough to apologize for getting it so utterly wrong?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Originally it was Lahore. Late Feb they switched to Pindi. Then recently back to Lahore.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Marsh bros-battering transcends time/space.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
It was originally Lahore, then they switched to Pindi, then back to Lahore.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
This post aged well
Tempo
Roar Rookie
They just updated the original squad announcement article rather than posting a new article.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
They changed it for security reasons. Protests against Imran Khan’s government are planned for Rawalpindi/Islamabad so it was considered safest to remain in Lahore.