Redbacks captain Travis Head axed from Australia’s one-day squad in blow to World Cup chances

South Australian batsman Travis Head’s World Cup hopes have taken a massive hit with his shock axing from the Australian side for the one-day series against India.

AXED: South African bowler Lungi Ngidi appeals for LBW against Travis Head in the second one-day international at Adelaide Oval in November. Picture: BRENTON EDWARDS (AFP).

• Lynn, Head axed amid mass ODI changes

Star South Australian batsman Travis Head’s World Cup hopes have taken a massive hit with his shock axing from the Australian side for the one-day series against India.

The Test left-hander was made one of the fall guys for Australia’s last one-day series loss to South Africa in November, with only six players surviving the mass changes.

This is partly due to the three main quicks — Test men Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins — being rested because of their workloads.

But Redbacks and Strikers captain Head was joined on the outer by fellow top-order batsmen D’Arcy Short and Chris Lynn and hard-hitting middle order man Ben McDermott.

Spinning all-rounder Ashton Agar also has been dropped while quick Nathan Coulter-Nile has been left out after experiencing lower back pain.

South African bowler Lungi Ngidi appeals for LBW against Australian batsman Travis Head in November. Picture: AFP

Head, 25, has averaged a solid 34.40 in 42 one-day internationals, with one century and 10 fifties.

But he made only 1, 8 and 6 against South Africa in November.

Head’s Strikers teammate Liam O’Connor said his BBL teammates were “initially shocked’’ by the selectors call.

“There was that initial shock,’’ he said.

“But the depth in Aussie cricket’s not too bad for that sort of (top order) batting position.

“At least we (the Strikers) get to have him back.’’

Redbacks Alex Carey and Adam Zampa have been named in Australia’s 14-man squad for the three-match Indian series, which starts at the SCG on January 12 and moves to Adelaide Oval on January 15 and the MCG on January 18.

There have been one-day recalls for Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh and Striker Peter Siddle, who played the last of his 17 one-day internationals in 2010.

Test off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been given a chance to press his claims for a spot in Australia’s World Cup team.

That tournament will be played in England this year.

Australia, which was the lowest ranked team in world cricket last year in the one-day format, is expected to recall star batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner for its World Cup campaign following the expiration of their ball-tampering suspensions.

“After a disappointing period in ODI cricket, the national selection panel along with team coaches have reviewed our performances across this format and we’ve identified a number of key areas that we feel we need to improve in order to help put this team in the best possible position to turn this period around,” Australian national selector Trevor Hohns said.

“With this in mind and the World Cup looming, we’ve selected players we feel provide us with the flexibility to play a variety of roles at different stages of a match.

“The three-match series against India and the ODI tours of India and the UAE are important windows to put this into practice and to build a squad to help defend our World Cup title.

“Travis Head, Darcy Short and Chris Lynn have been unlucky to miss out. All three have had opportunities to cement their spots, but unfortunately, they have not been as productive as we would have liked in recent times when playing ODI cricket for Australia.”

AUSTRALIA ODI SQUAD

Aaron Finch (c), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Siddle (Vic); Usman Khawaja, Billy Stanlake (Qld); Nathan Lyon (NSW); Alex Carey, Adam Zampa (SA); Mitch Marsh (vc), Jason Behrendorff, Shaun Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Jhye Richardson (WA).