Quantcast

Paris, Boland to make ODI debuts

Joel Paris earns start in front of WACA faithful but Perth teammate Shaun Marsh misses out

Australia have named two one-day international debutants for the first time in three years, with fast-bowlers Scott Boland and Joel Paris named to take on India in the Victoria Bitter ODI series opener in Perth on Tuesday.

The duo will become Australia's 210th and 211th ODI players, named in a pace-heavy bowling attack along with Josh Hazlewood and pace-bowling allrounders James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh.

It's almost three years to the day since Australia last fielded two debutants in the same ODI side; Kane Richardson and Ben Cutting played their first games against Sri Lanka in Adelaide on January 13, 2013.

A 23-year-old Perth native who will debut in front of his home crowd at the WACA Ground, Paris has been fast-tracked into the national squad following the retirement of Mitchell Johnson and injuries to Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

Australia captain Steve Smith said the left-arm swing from Paris in his home conditions helped sway selectors, who have left out South Australia and Adelaide Strikers quick Richardson.

"Traditionally we like to play a left-armer here who can use the breeze and move the ball so hopefully he'll be able to do that for us tomorrow," Smith said at his pre-match captain's press conference.

"He's been very impressive in the Matador Cup in the last couple of years and in the Big Bash this year. We look forward to seeing how he goes.

"It's a good opportunity for him and some other young quicks around the country. So it's an exciting time for Joel to make his debut at the WACA." 

WATCH: Paris stars with six Shield wickets

Selection is also just reward for Victoria's Boland, who was named in Australia's Test squad for the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests.

Smith said he's been impressed with the right-armer's ability to bowl at the death; Boland and Melbourne Stars teammate John Hastings delivered a spell late in their recent BBL against Hobart Hurricanes that former England captain Kevin Pietersen labelled the best death bowling performance he'd ever seen.

While Boland is a lead candidate to bowl at the death against the dangerous Indian batsmen, Smith said he had five fast-bowling options to choose from in the latter overs.

"His death bowling has been very impressive," Smith said of Boland.

"I think he hits a yorker as well as anyone at the moment. He's got a bit of pace to him so hopefully he can hurry up the Indian batters a bit.

"He's been impressive in the nets the past couple of weeks.

"All of our fast bowlers in this game can perform a role at the death.

"It might be an instance of who's bowling well on the day and a bit of a gut feel for who's going to bowl the last couple of overs.

"But they're all aware and they've all been working on it so it's a good luxury to have five fast bowlers who can do a job at the back end." 

WATCH: Kevin Pietersen describes Boland, Stars death bowling as best ever

Australia's batting line-up is as expected, with Shaun Marsh missing out despite being one of the most in-form batsmen in the country.

The left-hander has scored 218 runs in five matches for the Perth Scorchers at 72.67 and a strike-rate of 128.24 and also compiled the small matter of a Test-best 182 against the West Indies in Hobart last month.

Marsh is likely to get a chance later in this series, with opener David Warner expected to return home at some stage for the birth of his second child.

"It's very difficult but Shaun's been exceptional," Smith said of Marsh. "He hasn't whinged once, he's taken it on the chin and he's been great around the group.

"He's been really impressive and hopefully every time he goes back (to state cricket) he can continue to dominate, keep scoring big runs and to put his name up there." 

WATCH: Clinical Marsh guides Scorchers home in BBL

Australia will again wear gold in their home ODIs after returning to the colour during last year's successful World Cup campaign.

There is also an expected return of the floppy gold hat, worn by George Bailey at training today.

India have yet to name their playing XI, but uncapped paceman Barinder Sran looks set to make his international debut following the series-ending injury to Mohammed Shami.

Shami re-injured his hamstring in the warm up of India's Twenty20 match against a Western Australia XI on Friday, and was ruled out of the tour on Saturday. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Australia XI: Warner, Finch, Smith (c), Bailey, Maxwell, M Marsh, Wade (wk), Faulkner, Paris, Boland, Hazlewood.