Australia is poised to introduce two fresh faces, Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Owen, to their One-Day International squad for the series opener against India in Perth on October 19th. Matt Renshaw, 29, will finally make his ODI bow nearly nine years after his international debut and following 14 Test caps. His inclusion is a direct result of his exceptional white-ball form, highlighted by a stellar performance against Sri Lanka A where he scored 248 runs at an impressive average of 82.66. Renshaw has consistently performed in the 50-over format, accumulating 2794 runs at an average of 41.08. Joining him in debuting is Mitchell Owen, whose aggressive century off just 48 balls against South Australia earlier this year caught the selectors’ attention. The absence of first-choice wicketkeepers Josh Inglis and Alex Carey for the first match opens the door for Josh Philippe’s return to the ODI side to don the gloves. Matt Short also returns to the Australian setup after recovering from injury, and will bat at number three for the entire three-match series against India, a strategic move from his usual opening position. Captain Mitchell Marsh expressed optimism about the team’s composition, anticipating a memorable series start with a sold-out Perth crowd.
