Australia squad: Beardman set for ODI debut as Fraser-McGurk returns for England series
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Fast bowler Mahli Beardman is set to make his ODI debut as Australia named a squad featuring up to eight new faces for their upcoming home white-ball series against England, comprising three ODIs and five T20Is starting on 13 November in Perth.
New Faces in the Australia Squads
Beardman is joined by young batter Oliver Peake and all-rounders Jack Edwards and Liam Scott in the ODI squad, all in contention for their first international appearances. In the T20I setup, Nikhil Chaudhary and Joel Davies come in alongside Beardman and Edwards, while uncapped wicketkeeper-batters Lachlan Shaw and Sam Harper are both in the frame for a debut after Josh Inglis was rested from the shorter format.
Notably, the T20I leg also marks the return of batter Jake Fraser-McGurk to international cricket after an 18-month absence, alongside Mitch Owen.
What the Selection Panel Said
Australia's selection chief George Bailey explained the thinking behind the recalls: 'Jake (Fraser-McGurk) and Mitch (Owen) return to the T20 side and we believe their ball-striking can be a point of difference in the shorter formats. They are good examples of players who have had an opportunity at the international level and have continued working on their game from what they learnt from those experiences.'
Senior Bowlers Rested Ahead of Busy Test Season
The fast-bowling triumvirate of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood have all been rested following the three-Test series in South Africa, with a demanding 10-Test block scheduled to begin in December. Nathan Ellis, who has been sidelined with a side strain sustained during the second ODI in South Africa in September, will miss the ODI leg but is set to return for the T20I series.
Meanwhile, Matt Short was not considered after falling out of limited-overs favour earlier this year, compounded by a hip procedure that will keep him out for the next five weeks.
The Full Squads
Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Ollie Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Adam Zampa.
England ODI squad: Harry Brook (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Josh Tongue.
The series concludes with the fifth T20I in Canberra on 2 December, marking a significant audition window for Australia's next generation of white-ball talent before the Test summer begins.