Australia’s ODI Team Announced for Pakistan Series: 35-Year-Old Veteran Returns to Replace Injured Green

New Delhi: The Australia cricket team for the ODI series against Pakistan has been announced. Cricket Australia (CA) revealed the squad for the three-match ODI series set to take place next month. Notably, 35-year-old all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been included in the lineup, stepping in for the injured Cameron Green, who requires surgery due to a stress fracture.

Star all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head will miss the series as they are on paternity leave in anticipation of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Additionally, Alex Carey has been rested to prepare for the upcoming five-Test series starting in Perth on November 21. Captain Pat Cummins, along with senior players Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell, returns to the ODI team after their absence during the series against England.

Chief selector George Bailey stated, “This is our last ODI series before the Champions Trophy, and the team balance has been crafted with that in mind. We’ve also considered our preparations for the upcoming Test matches this summer. The ODI team performed exceptionally well in the UK, despite facing challenges from illness and injury, and we view this series as preparation for the tour in Pakistan next February.

With Marsh and Head unavailable, Jake Fraser-McGurk will have the opportunity to claim an opening spot, partnering with Matthew Short. Aaron Hardy, another fast-bowling all-rounder, has also been included in the squad. The ODI series will kick off on November 4 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, followed by the remaining two matches on November 8 and 10 at Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium, respectively.

Australia squad for the ODI series against Pakistan:

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

Analysis: Why Did Bumrah Receive the Vice-Captaincy Over Rishabh Pant, Gill, or KL Rahul?

In the home Test series against Bangladesh, Team India did not have an official vice-captain, but that changed for the series against New Zealand, with Jasprit Bumrah once again taking on the role. This means Bumrah will participate in all three matches against the Kiwi team, and even if he rests for one game, he will still be involved with the squad. Whether another player will be appointed vice-captain if he takes a break remains unclear.

By naming Bumrah as vice-captain, Ajit Agarkar and the selectors have put to rest speculation surrounding Shubman Gill. Gill has performed exceptionally well in his last two Test series against England and Bangladesh and is viewed as a potential future Test captain. He was also recently appointed captain of the T20 team for the tour of Zimbabwe. However, by not selecting Gill for the vice-captaincy, the selectors have signaled their thoughts on future leadership.

One indication is that India may not find a captain like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, or Rohit Sharma, who plays in every match across all three formats. With a busy schedule ahead, Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead the T20 team over the next year. Most players from the three-match series against Bangladesh will be part of the upcoming series in South Africa in November, alongside the Test team and India A’s tour of Australia. As for India A, red-ball players may see Rituraj Gaikwad taking on captaincy responsibilities, positioning him as a strong candidate for future Test captaincy, even though he has yet to play in any Tests.

Holding the vice-captaincy does not guarantee future captaincy. While being appointed vice-captain in Tests suggests potential, it doesn’t ensure that one will become captain later. Jasprit Bumrah first captained in Tests in Birmingham, England, in 2022, stepping in when Rohit was unexpectedly sidelined due to Covid. This time, Bumrah could also lead in the first or second Test during the Australia tour if the regular captain takes personal leave.

Why Not KL Rahul?

The selectors opted not to turn to KL Rahul, who previously served as captain in South Africa when regular captain Kohli was unavailable. Rahul’s inconsistency with the bat has diminished his chances for both captaincy and vice-captaincy. His situation mirrors that of Ajinkya Rahane, who was vice-captain during the West Indies tour in 2023 but has since been dropped from the team due to poor performances.

Jadeja and Ashwin’s Absence as Vice-Captains

Despite being seasoned Test players, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have never held the vice-captaincy, unlike Cheteshwar Pujara, who had this role for a brief period. Young Rishabh Pant was also entrusted with the vice-captaincy, but not in Test cricket. Many experts view Pant as a strong candidate for future Test captaincy due to his match-winning ability, experience, and wicketkeeping skills similar to Dhoni’s. Furthermore, his relationship with the current captain, Rohit Sharma, is solid. Given these factors, one must question why Pant was not appointed vice-captain again.

There are two key reasons behind the selectors’ firm stance on Rishabh Pant

First, they want Pant to maintain the same playing style on the Australia tour that contributed significantly to the team’s success in the last two Test series, without the added responsibility of vice-captaincy. Second, Pant has been away from the Test team for over a year. Although he made a remarkable comeback against Bangladesh, appointing him vice-captain at this stage would be premature.

Is it Appropriate to Make a Young Player Vice-Captain?

Another factor in giving Bumrah the vice-captaincy is that he has yet to captain in T20s and ODIs, where Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma currently hold those leadership roles until the Champions Trophy. Following that, it remains uncertain how Rohit will approach ODI cricket in the coming year or what the selectors’ plans will be. In this context, with three Tests against New Zealand, five against Australia, and six Tests in England—including the World Test Championship—upcoming over the next ten months, totaling 14 matches, it raises the question of whether it might have been wiser to appoint a younger player as vice-captain, given the fitness concerns surrounding senior players. Bumrah may only be able to participate in a portion of these 14 Tests.

Respect for Bumrah

The selectors may not be considering the long-term implications of their decision. Their primary focus is on winning the Test series in Australia for the third consecutive time, and Bumrah’s appointment as vice-captain is closely tied to that objective. The outcome of the series, along with the form and fitness of senior players, will influence future leadership roles within the team, including the next captain and vice-captain. Currently, the positive aspect for the team is that Bumrah commands immense respect, not just from captain Rohit but also from former captain Virat Kohli and future captaincy contenders like Gill, Pant, and Rahul. They recognize Bumrah’s experience and strength, making his vice-captaincy well-accepted. Players like Ashwin and Jadeja also feel comfortable with Bumrah in this leadership role, as he maintains a positive relationship with them.

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