Starc, Zampa return for fourth ODI

Australia captain Steve Smith has won the toss and opted to bat first in the fourth Victoria Bitter one-day international at the SCG, with the hosts making two big changes to their XI.

Spearhead Mitchell Starc and leg-spinner Adam Zampa return to the side, with allrounder James Faulkner and towering paceman Billy Stanlake making way for the duo.

Pakistan also have received a boost with captain Azhar Ali coming back into their team after he missed the second and third ODIs with a hamstring injury.

Asad Shafiq makes way for the skipper, after making five and 13 in his two hits so far this series.

Australia lead the five-match series 2-1 meaning Pakistan must avoid defeat today to stay alive in the series.

Starc, the International Cricket Council’s fourth-ranked ODI bowler, was rested for the third ODI in Perth following a heavy workload this summer.

The left-armer played all six Tests against South Africa and Pakistan.

Zampa’s return means Australia will field a specialist slow-bowler for the first time in this series, with part-time off-spinner Travis Head carrying the spin workload in the first three ODIs.

The wrist-spinner was the leading wicket-taker in ODIs in 2016 and Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, having played with him at the Sydney Thunder in the KFC Big Bash League, said the Pakistan batsmen would look to unsettle him.

"He's a quality bowler ... I rate him highly and he's done really well," Mahmood said of Zampa.

"If he plays, we play spin well so we need to rotate the strike against him and not give him any wickets."