Australia will give two players their ODI debuts in the first ODI of three consecutive matches against India on Sunday, October 19 at Optus Stadium in Perth. Left-handed batsman Matthew Renshaw and all-rounder Mitchell Owen will represent Australia in their first one-day internationals following strong performances.
Australia lost the home series 1-2 against South Africa in their last match in this format. The last time the Australians faced India was in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they suffered a four-wicket defeat. Notably, the hosts will be without key players, including captain Pat Cummins, who is recovering from injury.
Matthew Renshaw and Mitchell Owen set to make ODI debuts for Australia
Matthew Renshaw is set to make his long-awaited ODI debut for Australia in the series opener against India. Matt Short will return to the ODI set-up and bat at number three.
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The reigning world champions will test their bench strength against India. In the absence of regular wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, who is recovering from a calf injury, Josh Philippe will take up the gloves for the series opener.
Renshaw, Cooper Connolly and Mitchell Owen add batting depth and all-round skill to the side. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhneman will return to the ODI line-up as Adam Zampa missed the first match due to family reasons. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will lead the pace bowling attack.
I believe it will be a high-scoring affair – Australia captain Mitchell Marsh
Captain Mitch Marsh said negotiations for a new ball will be key in the first ODI. He pointed out that early damage with the new ball often determined the outcome, and that big totals tended to appear late in the innings.
“What you often see at Perth Stadium is that you can swing the new ball around and both teams will be looking to do damage early on with that wicket. Overall in the Big Bash, a lot of the biggest scores are on the back end,” Marsh said on the eve of the match.
“Therefore, I believe that if we get off to a good start, it will be a high-scoring match, but it will be a challenge for both teams to get through the first 10 overs and will probably decide the outcome of the match,” he added.
There’s no real difference between the opening and the third song – Mitchell Marsh
Travis Head and Mitch Marsh will start, with Matt Short starting at number three. Short missed the South African series in August with a fractured rib cartilage and missed the final stages of this year’s Champions Trophy with a quadriceps injury.
Marsh said Short, who is a regular opener for Victoria and Adelaide Strikers and has experience as an opener in T20 games around the world, was confident in his ability to adapt at number three.
“We know he is an opening batsman for the Victoria Strikers and Adelaide Strikers and has opened in T20 cricket around the world,” Marsh said.
“But we don’t see a huge difference between the opener and the No. 3 batter, and we feel comfortable having him at bat there.
“Overall, we’ve seen a lot of players get opportunities in the white-ball team over the last 12 months, but the important thing for us is (they) come in and really define their role.”
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