Selectors set to name Aussie ODI squad

Australia’s selectors are set to name a 14-man squad for the for the five-match VB ODI series against Pakistan, with spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to be rested at certain stages.

The series starts in Brisbane on January 13 but coach Darren Lehmann has already forecast rest for his two premier pacemen after Hazlewood (281.5 overs) and Starc (275.2) have undertaken an enormous workload in international cricket this summer with one Test innings left to bowl in Sydney.

"They’ll definitely play, there’s no doubt about that," Lehmann told Wide World of Sports on Friday.

"You need your best players playing and Starc’s and Hazlewood’s one-day record is exceptional and they helped us get 3-0 against New Zealand a month or so ago.

"They’ve bowled something like 280 overs in six Tests, more than anyone else (in the Pakistan Test series) apart from Yasir Shah.

"They’re pretty tired, still got another innings here to go which is going to be important to try and get a victory in the Test match then we’ll sum it up for the one-dayers.

"I’d imagine they’d miss a game or two here and there.

"They’re two great bowlers who have done a great job for us all summer. We’ll look at that but they’ll certainly play at some stage."

The pair were rested for the ODI tour to South Africa that preceded the summer, before Starc lacerated his leg in a fielding mishap and instead spent that time recovering in a race against the clock for the first Commonwealth Bank Test against the Proteas in Perth.

The new-ball duo collected six wickets in December’s ODI whitewash of the Black Caps and were well supported by returning speedster Pat Cummins.

Chris Lynn’s Big Bash pyrotechnics could see him included in the squad after bossing BBL bowling attacks all over the country.

Lynn has been a human highlight reel in the KFC Big Bash League this season, crashing 309 runs in five appearances at a staggering average of 154.50 and strike rate of 177.59.

The 26-year-old was unstoppable against the Perth Scorchers on Thursday night at The Furnace as he hit a record-equalling 11 sixes in his unbeaten 98 from to catapult the Heat into top spot on the BBL|06 ladder.

Lynn was 50-50 to play last night in the west after injuring his shoulder in Brisbane’s only loss of the tournament to the Sydney Sixers on December 30, but the right-hander recovered enough to put on a brutal display of hitting for the packed out WACA Crowd and the 1.3m television viewers.

Lynn might not be the only player rewarded for his BBL form, with the competition’s leading wicket-taker Sean Abbott a chance to join the Australians.

Abbott has taken 14 wickets for the Sydney Sixers in five matches in BBL|06, including 5-16 against the Adelaide Strikers on New Year’s Eve.

The 24-year-old right-armer played one ODI against Pakistan in Sharjah in October 2014 and three T20 internationals, and could partner Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins in an all-NSW seam bowling attack.

Possible Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Sean Abbott, George Bailey, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa