Cricket Australia (CA) on September 17, 2023, announced the Australia squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series in India which sees a host of first-choice players returning.
India and Australia will play three ODIs on September 22, 24, and 27 in Mohali, Indore, and Rajkot as their final assignment before the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 begins in India from October 5 onwards.
Pat Cummins will return to captain the Australian side after missing the ongoing campaign in South Africa. Also returning will be Steve Smith, who along with Cummins was nursing a wrist injury. Uncapped pair Matt Short and Spencer Johnson have been included in an extended 18-man squad.
One unfortunate miss from the squad is Travis Head, who fractured his left hand after getting on it by Gerald Coetzee. Surgery is understood to be one of the options considered for the opening batter.
Even if he does not go under the knife, the 29-year-old appears to be in a race against time to feature at the World Cup, which begins in three weeks.
Ashton Agar, who is in Australia’s 15-man World Cup squad, will miss this ODI series as he remains on family leave for the birth of his first child.
Along with Short and Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Tanveer Sanga, and Nathan Ellis are the other non-World Cup squad members heading to India.
Glenn Maxwell, whose wife Vini gave birth earlier this week, has been named despite recent complications over his left leg, which led to him missing the South Africa tour.
Mitch Marsh, who is opening in the ongoing fifth ODI in Johannesburg, could partner David Warner against the new ball for the World Cup if Head is not available. Marnus Labuschagne might enter the World Cup squad in case Head doesn’t recover in time.
Australia squad for ODIs against India:
Pat Cummins (C), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey (WK), Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis (WK), Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
(Cricket Australia inputs)
