Ben McDermott Replaces Matthew Short For 3rd ODI Against West Indies
Ben McDermott (X.com)
Queensland batter Ben McDermott has been drafted into Australia's squad for the conclusive third ODI of the series against the West Indies, taking the place of injured Matthew Short.
Short has been sidelined for the third ODI due to a low-grade hamstring injury, which he sustained during Australia's series-clinching victory over the West Indies at the SCG on Sunday. Despite making a noteworthy contribution of 41 runs off 55 balls while batting at number six, Short couldn't partake in the fielding duties due to the injury sustained during his batting innings.
This development is unfortunate for Short, who aimed to solidify his position in the ODI squad, particularly after earning recognition as the BBL's player of the tournament for the second consecutive season, amassing 541 runs. The Victorian cricketer is also slated to be part of the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies. Whether he will recover in time for the home series scheduled for February 9, 11, and 13 remains uncertain.
McDermott is set to join the squad today. His selection follows a remarkable century for Queensland in the ongoing Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania. He has withdrawn from the Sheffield Shield match to join the Australia ODI squad in Canberra, with the upcoming game scheduled at the Manuka Oval on Tuesday.
Having made his international debut in 2018, McDermott has a good amount of experience in the international arena, having played 25 T20Is and six ODIs for Australia. Although his last ODI appearance for Australia dates back over 22 months to the tour of Pakistan in March-April 2022, where he notably scored a century in Lahore, McDermott showed his proficiency in the format, boasting an average of 44.60 in five ODIs.
Despite the prolonged absence from the ODI team, McDermott participated in Australia's T20 series against India last year. With Australia already securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after triumphs in Melbourne and Sydney, McDermott's inclusion, especially in the absence of Short, suggests he is likely to feature prominently in the playing XI. Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood is likely to be rested for the third ODI match as he readies himself for the ensuing T20I series.
In the absence of Hazlewood, potential returns for Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett are on the horizon. Bartlett, who impressed with a four-wicket haul on his debut, was rested for the second ODI, while Johnson, initially not part of the squad, might find himself back in contention.
Australia ODI squad for the Third ODI: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Ben McDermott, Will Sutherland, Adam Zampa
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