Australia announce playing XI for 1st ODI against India
What's the story?
Australia have announced their playing eleven for the first ODI against India at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. Veteran pacer Peter Siddle has been included in the lineup and will play his first ODI since November 2010.
Apart from the returning Siddle, Australia's pace attack also contains 22-year-old Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff. The SCG match will mark the latter's maiden ODI appearance. He has played five T20Is in his international career thus far. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis can also offer handy overs to supplement the three fast bowlers.
The other significant development in the bowling attack sees Nathan Lyon being preferred ahead of leg-spinner Adam Zampa. The veteran, who is already Australia's most prolific off-spinner in Test history, will get a chance to add to his tally of 18 ODI wickets.
The background
Siddle made his ODI debut in February 2009 during a bilateral match against New Zealand at the Gabba. Thus far, he has played just 17 ODIs and picked 15 wickets at an economy-rate of 4.64. His last appearance for Australia in the 50-over format came in November 2010 against Kumar Sangakkara's visiting Sri Lanka side.
The heart of the matter
Led by Aaron Finch, the revealed Australian playing lineup sees Alex Carey move up to the opening spot from number seven. The skipper insisted that the decision has been taken because of the wicketkeeper-batsman's success as an opener in the Big Bash League.
Finch affirmed, "It's just an opportunity to see Alex play in a position he's done quite bit in Big Bash and one-day cricket. It's a position he's performed really well within the last couple of years. He's been shuffled around the order a bit in the last little while trying to search for that process and right balance of the side and he'll get a good opportunity up there."
The likes of Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb form the middle-order. Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell can offer significant fire-power in the lower middle-order.
Australia Playing XI for 1st ODI: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (wk), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff
What's next?
The first ODI between Australia and India is set to take place at 0750 IST at Sydney Cricket Ground. Virat Kohli's team have not announced their playing eleven yet. All signs indicate that they are likely to reveal their lineup only at the toss.