Steven Smith named as captain of new-look Australia ODI squad

Joe Burns, Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Agar haven’t played any 50-over cricket for Australia before and are all in line for debuts.

Australia will play the lone ODI towards Ireland in Belfast on 27 August and a T20 match towards England on 31 August in Cardiff earlier than taking over the hosts in a 5-match ODI series starting from 3 September.

Burns, 25, is coming off a powerhouse 154 from 131 balls for Australia A against India A in Chennai last week.

However, all-rounder James Faulkner was not considered as he serves a team suspension after admitting to driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Joe has impressed us immensely over in India with Australia A. He is a very capable young batsman who has experience opening, and we think he will grab his opportunity with the white ball during this series”.

“Marcus has performed very well in India during the four-day series and we have always liked that option of the extra all-rounder in our side, so with James Faulkner’s unavailability, this is a great opportunity for Marcus”, Marsh added.

Australia can be with out the providers of veterans Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke, who’ve introduced their retirement from the format after guiding the staff to their fifth World Cup in March.

“He may look to return to Yorkshire, fitness dependent, for a few games at the end of the season as he prepares for the Matador Cup at home in October”. The wrist spinner Fawad Ahmed was taken on the dual West Indies and Ashes tours ahead of Agar but has not performed to the standards the selectors hoped for.

Western Australian Stoinis, a medium pace bowler, is the chief beneficiary of Faulkner’s omission and has recently played on Australia A’s tour of India.

With seven new faces in the squad, Smith will captain a side which will face a spirited England following their Ashes victory.

And while Marsh says the NSP would enjoy having a leggie in the squad for upcoming tours in spin-friendly conditions, ultimately the form of the Pakistan-born asylum seeker dictated his selection.

Agar and Burns have each played two Tests, the former making his mark in the 2013 Ashes series with a wonderful 98 from 101 balls at number 11 on debut at Trent Bridge.

Paceman Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood will be rested, with James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile named as their replacements, while wicketkeeper Matthew Wade comes back into the squad after the ODI retirement of Brad Haddin.

Australia’s 14-man ODI squad: David Warner, Joe Burns, Steve Smith (capt), Shane Watson, George Bailey, Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson.