Chris Lynn, Travis Head axed amid mass ODI changes to face India
Chris Lynn and Travis Head have been sensationally dumped from Australia’s one-day squad to face India with Usman Khawaja, and Mitchell Marsh among the high profile stars recalled.
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Chris Lynn and Travis Head have been sensationally dumped from Australia’s one-day squad to face India with Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Marsh the high profile stars recalled.
As revealed first by The Daily Telegraph, Khawaja will take a significant step towards his goal of helping anchor Australia’s World Cup defence as selectors rung in a complete cleanout of the side that lost to South Africa in November.
Only six players have survived the mass changes.
Incredibly no members of the BBL leading Hobart Hurricanes squad have made the cut, with D’Arcy Short and Ben McDermott dumped and the in-form Matthew Wade again overlooked.
Khawaja returns after nearly two years out of Australia’s 50-over team and looks set to open alongside captain Aaron Finch for the three game series starting against India at the SCG next Saturday.
If Khawaja nails his opportunity he would likely be pitted in a head-to-head battle with Shaun Marsh for the No.3 spot for the World Cup, with the expectation David Warner will slot straight in after his ball-tampering suspension expires.
Australia were the lowest ranked team in world cricket last year in the ODI format for win percentage and Khawaja represents a complete overhaul in thinking.
As forecast by The Daily Telegraph, six-hitting ace Lynn has been axed from the squad after previously being groomed as an x-factor in the tournament.
Head has also been omitted in a crucial blow to his World Cup hopes.
Peter Handscomb comes back into the side and could fill the No.4 role before Steve Smith is available to vie for selection.
Mitchell Marsh is another player available for the middle-order after being left out of the last one-day series so he could focus on his Test preparations.
Marsh returns with the vice-captaincy tag next to his name in a 14-man squad.
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Glenn Maxwell has held his spot despite falling out of form in the last one-day series loss against South Africa, while Marcus Stoinis has held his place as all-rounder and Alex Carey as wicketkeeper.
Fox Sports revealed that Peter Siddle will make a shock return from the wilderness to lead the bowling attack with Australia’s Test quicks of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to be rested during the ODIs as forecast by coach Justin Langer.
Lyon also makes a timely return to the ODI set-up where he is now back in the box seat for a World Cup berth, alongside leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
With the bowlers rested, Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake and Jason Behrendorff are the other bowling options.
Khawaja’s and Handscomb’s selections reflect the fact Australia’s selectors have had a complete change of tact with their plans in one-day cricket.
After flooding the side with six-hitting bombers, selectors appear to be leaning towards batsmen who are more capable of working singles and rotating the strike to bring rhythm back to the innings.
Fox Sports expert Kerry O’Keeffe told News Corp back in November that Handscomb could help fill a void in the middle order.
Khawaja is regarded as Australia’s best overall batsmen and many have expressed shock he hasn’t featured in all formats.
Khawaja hasn’t played a one-dayer since January 2017.
AUSTRALIAN ODI SQUAD TO FACE INDIA
Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Marsh (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa
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Originally published as Chris Lynn, Travis Head axed amid mass ODI changes to face India
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