Australia will be led by new captain Josh Inglis for the third ODI vs Pakistan followed by the three-match T20I series against the same opponents from next week.
Cricket Australia have decided to rest their top stars like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith for the third ODI of the three-match series against Pakistan as they prepare for the first Test vs India which is set to get underway in Perth on November 22. With Cummins out for the final ODI as well as the upcoming three-match T20I series, which begin on November 14, the Australian board have selected a new ODI captain for the world champions.
The ODI World Cup 2023 winners will be led by wicket-keeper Josh Inglis, who has been chosen ahead of veterans like Glenn Maxwell and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis. Australia will also rest the likes of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and batter Travis Head for the third ODI in Perth.
The 29-year-old will become the 14th T20I captain for Australia and 30th ODI captain after being approved by the board following a recommendation from the selectors. Marsh, the permanent T20I captain, and Head, who led the side in a game in Marsh’s absence in England in September, are both unavailable for the series against Pakistan due to paternity leave and Test preparation.
Australia’s latest white-ball captain, Josh Inglis getting used to the added duties of being in-charge. Doing a radio cross immediately after a press conference under the watchful eyes of some Aussie cricket fans from the early 1900s & @ColeHitchcock #AusvPak pic.twitter.com/L460G7PxhM
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 6, 2024
Inglis played a crucial role in Australia’s successful ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign in India last year and the recent retirement of veteran keeper Matthew Wade means the 29-year-old is first choice behind the stumps in both white-ball formats.
“Josh is an integral member of the ODI and T20I teams and a highly respected player on and off the field. He has led Australia A previously and will bring strong tactical nous and a positive approach to the role. Josh will receive great support from the likes of Matt Short and Adam Zampa, along with senior players including Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis,” selection chair George Bailey said on Wednesday.
The promotion of Inglis allows Test skipper Pat Cummins and fellow red-ball stars Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to sit out the final match of the ongoing ODI series against Pakistan, with pacers Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett drafted into the squad alongside keeper-batter Josh Phillipe and another quick Lance Morris.
Australia claimed the opening match of the three-game ODI series against Pakistan by two wickets at the MCG, with the series now switching to Adelaide (8 November) and Perth (10 November) for the final two contests.
Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c – first two matches), Josh Inglis, (c – third match), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett (third match only), Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood (second match only), Spencer Johnson (third match only), Marnus Labuschagne (first two matches only), Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe (third match only), Matthew Short, Steve Smith (first two matches only), Mitchell Starc (first two matches only), Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Australia T20I squad: Josh Inglis (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.