Australia named their 18-member squad for the ODI series against India which will kick off on September 22, days ahead of the World Cup. Australia received a major boost ahead of the series as key players have returned to the team including skipper Pat Cummins for the three-match ODI series against India. Australia were missing the services of a handful of their usual players during the white-ball tour of South Africa. They were recovering from injuries sustained during the challenging Ashes series. Cummins and Steve Smith were dealing with wrist injuries while Mitchell Starc suffered from soreness in his groin and shoulder upon returning from the UK.
Glenn Maxwell, who was initially part of the South Africa tour, continues to nurse his ankle injury which he aggravated while training ahead of the T20I series against South Africa and then flew back home for the birth of his child.
In a boost for Australia, Maxwell has been declared fit and will be part of the India tour.
Cameron Green missed three ODIs against the Proteas after suffering a concussion in the first game. He returned for the final ODI after following an eight-day concussion protocol and is ready to join the action against India.
Travis Head and Ashton Agar are missing from the squad. Agar suffered a minor calf tear before the South Africa tour and missed the T20I series.
He featured in the first ODI but was left out of the playing XI for the next two games due to soreness. He flew back to Australia earlier in the week for the birth of his first child.
Head is in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup as he is set to fly home to Australia instead of joining the squad in India after fracturing his hand during the fourth ODI.
“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,” read Cricket Australia’s statement as they announced the squad.
The series is crucial for both teams as it comes days ahead of the Cricket World Cup which will be hosted by India from October 5.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
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