Steve Smith to lead in Pat Cummins’ absence as Australia announce squad for ODI series against West Indies

After being asked to captain the 13-player team that will face the West Indies in a three-match ODI series at home beginning on February 2, Steve Smith will be seen sporting the captain’s hat for Australia once again.
Along with the other members of the Australian fast-bowling cartel, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, regular captain Pat Cummins has been rested for the series.

Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson, two quicks from Western Australia, have been included in the team to increase the pace batteries in the event that Australia’s more experienced pacers are not available.

Richardson has been included to the team for the first time since Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2022, while Morris has received his first call-up in the format.

Marcus Stoinis, who was a member of Australia’s World Cup-winning team in India, was left off the playing XI by the referees at the conclusion of the competition.

The team is full of players that might be key players in Pakistan in 2025 for the ICC Champions Trophy, which is seen to represent Australia’s ODI future.

“It is a little over 12 months until the Champions Trophy and further opportunities for the likes of Aaron Hardie, Matt Short, Jhye Richardson, and Nathan Ellis will be valuable both to our ongoing improvement as a team and also further their personal experiences in ODI cricket,” George Bailey, the national selector, was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricket Info.

“The squad strikes a balance between players continuing to make their mark on international cricket, playing alongside some of our most experienced players with an eye to the future in this format,” he said.

Australia vs. West Indies ODI team

Steve Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Adam Zampa; Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk).