Pat Cummins to lead Australia in Pakistan ODIs, Jake Fraser-McGuirk retained

Pat Cummins will captain Australia’s one-day squad in Pakistan ODIs (Image AP)

Pat Cummins will captain Australia’s one-day squad for the first time since lifting the Cricket World Cup in November in its three-match series against Pakistan at home next month. Cummins was named Monday in the 14-man Australia squad for the matches at Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth along with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, the other regular members of Australia’s test pace lineup.

Jake Fraser-McGuirk has been given another chance after struggling in Australia’s Twenty20 series against Scotland in September, in which he made 16 runs in three innings with two ducks. While he made a 30-ball 50 against England, he wasn’t selected for the subsequent five-match ODI series.

Fraser-McGuirk will likely open the batting with Matt Short in the absence of Travis Head and Mitch Marsh who are on paternity leave. The squad also includes batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labushagne and white ball regulars Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis and Adam Zampa.

Cooper Connolly also has been retained after making his one-day and T20 debuts on Australia’s September tour to Britain. Allrounder Aaron Hardie who scored 67 runs in two innings while batting No. 8 and took four wickets in the England series has kept his place while Marcus Stoinis returns after being left out of the England one-dayers.

Seamer Sean Abbott also has held his spot with several bowlers recovering from injuries suffered in England. Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis and Riley Meredith all left that series with injuries while Spencer Johnson was ruled out with a side strain before it began.

Meanwhile, test allrounder Cameron Green confirmed Monday he will undergo surgery on a stress fracture in his back and will be out of action for six months. A squad for the Twenty20 series against Pakistan will be named later this month.

The Pakistan series which comprises matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Nov. 4, the Adelaide Oval on Nov. 8 and Perth Stadium on Nov. 10 is Australia’s last one-day series before the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February.

Australia squad:

Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.