Hilton checks in to Aussie ODI squad

Western Australia allrounder Hilton Cartwright has been included in Australia’s 14-man Victoria Bitter ODI Series squad to face New Zealand next month.

The National Selection Panel have also recalled NSW Blues speedster Patrick Cummins and Victoria’s Glenn Maxwell, while pacemen Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner return after missing Australia’s 5-0 series loss to South Africa.

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), George Bailey, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

Born in Zimbabwe, Cartwright is a powerfully built allrounder who starred for the National Performance Squad in the 2015 Matador BBQs One-Day Cup before scoring his maiden first-class century for WA later that season.

The talented 24-year-old was included in the NPS squad in this winter’s Quadrangular A series, posting scores of 20, 81, 65 and 9 opening the batting against international-calibre bowling attacks, before he notched 117 in a first-class match against India A in September.

"Hilton bowls useful aggressive medium-pace and is a very good striker of the ball,” interim chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said.

"He is an exciting young prospect for Australian cricket and we have been watching him at the pathway level for some time now."

Cummins looked to be back to his best in the Matador Cup this year, finishing the tournament as the equal highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets from six matches in the Blues’ successful title defence.

The 23-year-old had been sidelined with a back injury he sustained representing Australia in his most recent ODI back in September 2015, and has slowly increased his bowling workloads to the point where he can now perform at international level.

"It is fantastic to see Pat back in Australian colours again,” Hohns said.

"It has been a frustrating period for him but we are certainly excited to have him fit and firing ahead of this series."

Maxwell has not played an ODI since June against the West Indies in Bridgetown after he was dropped for the 50-over series' against Sri Lanka and South Africa.

The dynamic allrounder bounced back with a stunning 145no in a T20 international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele two months ago, and has been steady with Victoria this domestic season.

Mitchell Marsh has overcome a shoulder injury to take his place in the squad, which will be led by Steve Smith and David Warner as Australia aim to win back the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

The series kicks off in Sydney on December 4, heads south to Canberra on December 6 before concluding in Melbourne three days later.

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