AUS v IND 2018-19: Aaron Finch confirms Australia's playing XI for the Sydney ODI

Alex Carey has been promoted to open the innings, while Peter Siddle returns for the first one-dayer.

Carey has played six one-day games for Australia, so far | Getty

Alex Carey has been promoted to open alongside skipper Aaron Finch, while Peter Siddle features after eight years in Australia's playing XI for the first ODI against India in Sydney on Saturday, January 12. 

Although Carey, the young wicketkeeper-batsman, has played each of his six one-dayers batting in the middle-order, Finch informed that the move is in line with selectors' wish to see what he could do at the start of an innings. 

"It's just an opportunity to see Alex play in a position he's done quite a bit of (times) now in Big Bash and one-day cricket. It's a position that he's performed really well in the last couple of years," Finch said in the pre-match press conference.

"He'll get a good opportunity up there. We are starting to get a balanced side that we feel can adapt to a lot of different conditions."

The captain also affirmed Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb as No.3,4,5 respectively in his team, with Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis bestowed with the job of finishing off things. 

Siddle, who last played an ODI in November 2010 against Sri Lanka and has got this opportunity because of hosts' decision to rest Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, shares the fast bowling workload with Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff. 

On the other hand, Nathan Lyon has been included as the lone spinner. 

Australia XI:- Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 11 Jan, 2019

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