Head returns to Australia ODI squad, multi-format quicks included
Cricket
Travis Head has returned to Australia's ODI squad for the series against England.
SYDNEY (Web Desk) - Travis Head has returned to Australia s ODI squad for the series against England and Marcus Harris has been included as the spare batter for the Test matches against West Indies.
Following the early exit from the T20 World Cup, a full-strength squad has been named for the three games against England in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne which will be Pat Cummins first series as ODI captain.
Head fills the vacancy created by Aaron Finch s one-day retirement having been unavailable for selection for the early-season series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand due to paternity leave. He has had an excellent 2022 in ODIs with 310 runs at 62 and a strike-rate of 112.72 when he faced Pakistan in Sri Lanka.
In the Pakistan series, where he made 101 and 89 in consecutive matches, Head played in place of David Warner but now will open alongside him.
"Our focus is to continue to build a squad with an eye to next year s World Cup under Pat as the new ODI captain, so it s an important series," national selector George Bailey said.
"Travis Head…has demonstrated flexibility in the types of roles he can play in our ODI line-up. Our next opportunity in the ODI format will be in India next year which will allow us to experience similar conditions as for the World Cup in October."
Sean Abbott misses out from earlier in the season despite a couple of impressive performances against New Zealand as does Josh Inglis. The multi-format quicks have all been included, along with Cameron Green, and they will then back up into the Test summer which begins in Perth on November 30.
The squad for the two matches against West Indies is very stable with perhaps the only talking point the retention of Harris. After losing his place during the Ashes when Usman Khawaja s prolific form led to a reshuffle of the order, Harris was the reserve batter in Pakistan then part of the Australia A squad in Sri Lanka either side of playing county cricket for Gloucestershire where he made 726 runs at 42.70.
He has made a solid start to the domestic season with 287 runs in three Sheffield Shield matches although it is Victoria team-mate Peter Handscomb who is well ahead at the top with 518 runs.
Scott Boland, who has not yet been able to add to his three Ashes Tests where he took 18 wickets at 9.55, is the extra quick in the squad behind Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. None of that trio will play Shield cricket before the Tests, but that is a preparation that Australia have become comfortable with in recent seasons. Green s inclusion in the ODI squad means he is unlikely to feature in any Shield cricket this year with the India Test tour due to start in early February.
Australia ODI squad vs England: Pat Cummins (capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Australia Test squad vs West Indies: Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
