Perth: Australia's rookie pacer Joel Paris is set to don Glenn McGrath's No.11 jersey when he makes his likely international debut in the first cricket ODI against India on January 12.
Paris, 23, is the same age as McGrath was when he made his ODI debut, with the fast bowling great going on to bag 381 wickets in his illustrious career.
The left-arm pacer has done well for himself in the Australian domestic circuit, picking up 24 wickets in 13 List A games.
With the Australian bowling ranks sans retired Mitchell Johnson and injured Mitchell Starc, uncapped Paris is likely to get the nod on home turf over fellow potential debutant Scott Boland for the first of five ODIs.
With the WACA ground considered heaven for pacers, Paris is keen to exploit the conditions even while acknowledging the batting force of the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side.
“Especially here, if you put the ball in the right areas, pitch it up and bowl full and try and swing the ball, you're as good a chance as anyone of taking a wicket,” Paris said.
“If we bowl really well and in the channels we want to bowl in, we'll give ourselves every opportunity of doing well. If we don't, they're world-class batters and they'll take advantage of that.”
The upcoming match will mark the first meeting between Australia and India in an ODI at the WACA since 2004.
