Shane Watson snubbed from Australia squad ahead of the One-Day International series with India
Cricket Australia selectors released the 13-man squad set to face India in an upcoming One-Day International (ODI) series. Shane Watson is the big name that is missing from the list along with Nathan Lyon.
The 34-year-old Watson has featured for Australia in 190 ODI’s and was a part of the squad which lifted the World Cup last year. The all-rounder announced his retirement from Test Cricket last September, but hoped to continue plying his trade in the shorter formats of the game. Following his exclusion from the squad, the future of the World Cup winner seems bleak.
Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh are the three all-rounders named in the squad. Faulkner missed the previous ODI series against England because of a drink-driving conviction.
Nathan Coulter-Nile, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc are currently injured and they have been replaced by two uncapped pacers, Joel Paris and Scott Boland.
"Scott has continued to impress the selection panel, having bowled very well for Victoria this year. He certainly deserves this chance at the top level" Rod Marsh, head selector said as stated by the official Cricket Australia website.
“Joel is an exciting young left-arm bowler who swings the ball well and has bowled beautifully in the Big Bash League for the Perth Scorchers. He has had very good figures in short-form cricket and we really want him to make the most of this opportunity.” Marsh added.
Kane Richardson, who featured in eight ODI’s for Australia in 2013 and 2014, was recalled. The seamer from South Australia finds himself in a squad devoid of any specialist spinner.
Josh Hazlewood was also included in the squad despite the pacer featuring in all the test matches against New Zealand and West Indies.
The top two ODI teams in the world rankings will face each other for five times, starting in Perth on Jan. 12, 2016 and then following in Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra before the series ender in Sydney on Jan. 23, 2016.
The Australian ODI squad which will face India will feature Steve Smith (captain), David Warner (vice captain), George Bailey, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Joel Paris and Matthew Wade.
The Indian ODI squad will include Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (Captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Rishi Dhawan and Brainder Balbirsingh Sran.
