Australia could have tried to fill a few extra seats at the MCG on Friday by giving two Victorian home-grown prospects a run but instead they are set to miss out as another two debutants get the nod for the team’s first ODI match since securing a sixth World Cup title.
Only five members of the XI who famously defeated India in the World Cup final last November will appear on Friday when Australia host the West Indies, who did not even qualify for the showpiece tournament.
After terrorising Australian batters in the nets for the best part of 18 months, Western Australian quick Lance Morris is expected to finally make his international debut.
Queenslander Xavier Bartlett will also likely be part of a pace attack with Sean Abbott the most experienced quick with 18 ODIs to his name.
Despite the match being in Melbourne, selectors appear unlikely to opt for sentimental selections and are tipped to leave out uncapped Victorians Will Sutherland and Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Jake Fraser-McGurk, Will Sutherland, Xavier Bartlett and Matt Short at Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
But Matt Short, who is coming off another dominant BBL campaign with the Adelaide Strikers after being named player of the tournament, will keep the home crowd happy.
Short played two ODIs in India ahead of the World Cup and is determined to grab this opportunity.
The 28-year-old has opened for Victoria in one-dayers, and for the Strikers, but could be forced to bide his time in the middle-order in Australian colours.
“To be honest I do feel more confident at the top of the order,” Short said on Thursday.
“But any opportunity to get playing for your country, whether it be through the middle or at the top … if the spot’s there to be taken you just have to take that opportunity.
“Try to do as best you can and sort of wait your turn.
“Hopefully some good performances in the middle order can maybe open up a spot up top.”
It has been a huge week for Short after he and his partner – Olympic swimmer Madi Wilson – publicly confirmed they were expecting their first child ahead of the Australian Cricket Awards in Melbourne.
Steve Smith will captain the World Cup winners in Pat Cummins’ absence, with fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood also resting ahead of the looming tour of New Zealand.
The West Indies will approach the three-match series buoyed by their miracle win at the Gabba last week – their first Test win in Australia since 1997.
But the tourists still have a point to prove in white-ball cricket after missing out on qualifying for last year’s ODI World Cup.
They also sensationally exited the 2022 T20 World Cup before the main stage in a low point for West Indies cricket.
Two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain Daren Sammy has taken charge as white-ball coach, with the West Indies defeating England in a home series last year.
Likely XI: Steve Smith (c), Travis Head (vc), Matt Short, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Lance Morris. Reserves: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Will Sutherland.
West Indies squad: Shai Hope (c), Alzarri Joseph, Alick Athanaze, Teddy Bishop, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh jnr.
with AAP
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Heat, kitchen don.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You are. You are trolling. You pass no opinion on the point being discussed. You just troll.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
You think that anyone that points out your lies, biases, double standards, and your ridiculing is a troll. They are not.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
"People" don't...only you trolls. You guys don't matter to sports fans.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
You do don. It is all you do. You are just a hypocrite so you do not see it, or you pretend not to see you. There is no projection. You act like a miserable ar$Echole and people point it out and then you get upset. That is all that is happening.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I don't...you just assume I do. There's a lot of projection on this site. None of that changes anything about how you behave. You can improve but you don't try.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
So silly. You have said that just about every non west Australian player in the test, ODI, and T20 sides should be dropped in the last few months alone. You constantly disparage Cummins and McDonald.
U
Roar Rookie
The state he plays for helps
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'm fine. Just don't think your put-downs work for sports fans.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
God it must be exhausting being you.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You don't take much ownership of your glibness, do you?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
May as well play Fraser - McGurk instead of Marnus.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
They can be more flexible with this - the shield team can pull a reserve player in to if the circumstances allow. Just use common sense to allow the players to be playing.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
I’ve no idea if they exist. The article suggests they do, not me.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Yeah, it is not clear why Abbott gets so many opportunities.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yes. That makes it more interesting.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I support them. That's my issue with you. No one measures up to your ultimate standard of county cricket. The only player who has ever met your approval is Peter Handscomb. I push a player's barrow and you corrupt a stat, or isolate a stat to dismiss them as not good enough.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
I suppose they need two players as concussion potential concussion substitutes, one batsman, and one bowler, but it sucks because 98% of the time they are not required.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Honestly it’s gotten my attention more because of the young players playing. Seeing the likes of Morris, Bartlett, Fraser-McGurk, Hardie and Short excites me more than watching Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and co.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
It actually infuriates me. This ODI team is missing seven players from the team that won the world cup. Clearly this series is not valued by cricket Australia, so they have weakened the Shield more than it needs to be for a series that they do not even give a sh!t about.