Peter Siddle will feature in an ODI for Australia for the first time in over eight years after the veteran fast bowler was named in the playing XI for the series opener against India.
Captain Aaron Finch confirmed the Australian side on Friday, 11 January, a day ahead of the first ODI of the three-match series at Sydney.
The hosts, whose last 50-over assignment was a 2-1 defeat at home to South Africa in November, had named a much-changed squad for the India ODIs with fast-bowling trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all rested.
34-year-old Siddle, instead, will be a part of a three-man pace attack at the SCG – the venue of his last ODI appearance, against Sri Lanka in November 2010.
“It’s something I’d probably forgotten about really. I never thought I’d get the opportunity to play one-day cricket for Australia again.”Peter Siddle, as quoted by cricket.com.au
Australia have made as many as six changes from the side that was fielded in the last match of their series against South Africa – five of the six missing players, including the rested pace troika, don’t even feature in the squad for the India series.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey, with only six ODI appearances so far, has been promoted to the top of the order and will open the batting along with skipper Finch.
Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb form Australia’s middle-order, completed by big-hitting all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell.
Siddle, Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff form the pace attack for the hosts, while Nathan Lyon will take up spin-bowling duties in coloured clothing again after earning an ODI recall.
Australia XI for 1st ODI vs India
Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (wk), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff.
The Aussies will be sporting a new, retro-inspired kit as they take the field in limited overs cricket for the first time this year.
The focus, of course, shifts entirely towards the World Cup for all participating countries, with less than five months left for the showpiece event in England and Wales.
Australia will enter as defending champions, but have their task cut out over the next few months as they hope to rebound from their worst-ever year in ODI cricket in 2018.
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