“Chris Lynn is in superb form for the Brisbane Heat”
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Uncapped batsman Chris Lynn and pace bowler Billy Stanlake have been drafted into Australia’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan.
Both Lynn, 26, and Stanlake, 22, are currently involved in the Big Bash League (BBL), where the former is playing for the Brisbane Heat, while the latter is representing the Adelaide Strikers.
Lynn, who has featured in five Twenty20 Internationals for Australia, has been in red-hot form in the BBL as he is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 309 runs, which includes three fifties, from five matches at an average of 154.50.
Stanlake, meanwhile, has taken six wickets in four matches at an average of 17.83.
“This is an extremely important series for us as, following it in a ODI context, we have the Chappell-Hadlee series in New Zealand and then, in mid-year, the ICC Champions Trophy, a tournament which we won in 2006 and 2009,” interim chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said. “We believe this squad is an exciting combination that covers all bases for us over the course of the five matches against Pakistan.
“Billy Stanlake is an exciting prospect who bowls with genuine pace and is a player who has made a terrific return to action for the Adelaide Strikers in the KFC Big Bash League after a lengthy time out through injury. Billy himself and the medical staff involved in his recovery have done a great job, he’s back playing again and playing well and we believe that now is the right time to give him a chance to stretch himself.
“Chris Lynn is in superb form for the Brisbane Heat and although that is a different form of the game we believe it is right that we give him the chance to show whether he can convert his wonderful ball-striking ability to ODIs.”
With the duo coming in, Australia had to remove two players and it was opener Aaron Finch and veteran batsman George Bailey who were ousted from the team.
“Both George Bailey and Aaron Finch have been prominent players in the ODI squad over the past few years but both of them have missed out on places in this squad,” Hohns said. “George has scored one fifty in his past 10 ODIs and, while his form has not been disastrous, it has not been to his usual standard so we have decided to look at younger players in the middle order in this instance.
“Aaron, across the past four series in the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Chappell-Hadlee series, has scored four fifties in his last 18 innings. I have spoken to both players and they understand our perspective as selectors.”
Meanwhile, batsman Usman Khawaja has also been recalled after a superb run of form in the recently concluded Test series against Pakistan, in which he scored 267 runs, which included three half-centuries, at an average of 66.75. Khawaja, though, has not played ODI cricket since September last year.
“Usman Khawaja has been in excellent touch throughout this Test summer, is able to bat anywhere in the top order and deserves another chance to demonstrate his ODI credentials,” Hohns said.
Australia ODI Squad: Steven Smith (capt), David Warner, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.