Steve Smith will be seen donning the leader's hat yet again for Australia as the selectors have asked him to lead the 13-player squad that has been announced to take on the West Indies in a three-match ODI series at home starting February 2.
Regular captain Pat Cummins has been rested for the series alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood who comprise the Australian fast-bowling cartel.
Two quicks from Western Australia, Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson, have been named in the squad to amp up the pace battery in the absence of Australia's seasoned pacers.
While Morris has earned his maiden call-up in the format, Richardson has been added to the squad for the first time since Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in 2022.
Selectors have dropped Marcus Stoinis who was a part of Australia's World Cup-winning squad in India but had lost his place in the playing XI by the fag end of the tournament.
The squad is filled with players who are being viewed as Australia's ODI future and can play an integral role in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 slated to be played in Pakistan.
"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," national selector George Bailey was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
"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 added.
Australia's ODI squad vs West Indies
Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Adam Zampa.
