Pat Cummins will lead a near full-strength Australian ODI squad against Pakistan

Two players absent on daddy duties has opened the ODI door for a batting dynamo as the Australian skipper returns for the first time in a year.

Pat Cummins is back in charge of Australia’s ODI team for a three-match series against Pakistan to be played just before the five-match Test series against India.

With Mitch Marsh, who captained the white-ball teams on the recent tour of England, on paternity leave along with Travis Head, the door is also open for batting dynamo

Jake Fraser-McGurk to stamp his name as an ODI opener.

With the three ODIs played just weeks out from the Indian Test series, Cummins will lead Australia’s first-choice attack, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood named in the 14-player squad.

But Alex Carey, who made two half-centuries in England filling in for Josh Inglis, has lost his place in the squad that includes Marcus Stoinis, who could play his first ODI in more than a year.

Stoinis and fellow all-rounder Aaron Hardie, along with Sean Abbott, will help carry the bowling loads, particularly for Cummins, who will be back in the ODI side for the first time since lifting the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Injuries have played a big role in selecting the frontline bowlers, with Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis and Riley Meredith having left the UK tour early, while Spencer Johnson was ruled out before it began with a side strain. None are yet to return to playing.

Jake Fraser-McGurk and Cooper Connolly are both in the Australian ODI squad. Picture: Philip Brown/Getty Images

National selection chief George Bailey said the series was an important one to bed down a likely line-up for next year’s Champions Trophy.

“This is our last ODI series before the Champions Trophy and the balance of the squad was focused on that as well as continuing to focus on preparation of individuals for the upcoming Test summer,” he said.

“The one-day side had a great result in the UK, particularly given illness and injury challenges. We view this is an opportunity to expand on that achievement in preparation for next February in Pakistan.”

Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are all included, but it’s the opportunity for Fraser-McGurk, who looks likely to open with Matt Short, that stands out from a batting perspective.

After a string of low T20 scores during the September UK tour, Fraser-McGurk wasn’t selected during the ensuing five-match ODI series against England.

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

AUSTRALIA V PAKISTAN ODIs:

November 4: MCG, 2.30pm AEDT (D/N)

November 8: Adelaide Oval, 2.30pm AEDT (D/N)

November 10: Perth Stadium, 2.30pm AEDT

Originally published as Pat Cummins will lead a near full-strength Australian ODI squad against Pakistan