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Ireland ODI: All you need to know

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Australia’s one-off ODI against Ireland tonight (7pm AEST).

THE BUILD-UP

The showdown at Belfast’s Civil Service Cricket Club will be Australia’s first ODI outing since they won the World Cup in March.

They will have a new captain in Steve Smith and after losing the Ashes to England, the Aussies will be eager to kick off their limited-overs campaign with a win.

Joe Burns will make his ODI debut, while Australia’s squad for the limited-overs matches also includes the uncapped Ashton Agar and Marcus Stoinis.

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Joe Burns is set to make his ODI debut // Getty Images

Ireland’s last ODI outing was against England in early May, however the match was called off due to rain after 18 overs, with the hosts 4-56.

The men in green came within a whisker of making the playoffs at the World Cup after defeating West Indies and Zimbabwe in their pool matches, only losing out to West Indies on net run rate.

Skipper William Porterfield stated Ireland have unfinished business with Australia - having lost by only 39 runs in their 2010 encounter - however, in bad news for Ireland, they will be without star all-rounder Kevin O’Brien.

O'Brien, who holds the record for fastest ever World Cup century, has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. He has been replaced in the squad by Max Sorensen, while O'Brien brother Niall will return to wicketkeeping duties for the first time in three years.

THE BACKGROUND

Australia and Ireland have only played each other three times - the last of which was in 2012 at the same Belfast ground.

Of those matches, Australia won two while the third, in 2012, was washed out with Ireland 3-36.

There has not been an ODI played at Belfast since September 2013, but the ground does not have a reputation for big hitting – where has only been one score above 300 at the ground. The past six ODIs completed in Belfast have been won by the team batting second.

SQUADS

Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Steve Smith (capt), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile

Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Max Sorensen, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young

IRELAND PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ireland’s squad for this month’s showdown contains nine of the players who featured in that 2012 clash, and eight of their 13-strong ODI squad have county cricket contracts in England.

Fans will remember John Mooney for his colourful choice of headband at the World Cup and the admirable way he opened up about his battles with alcoholism and depression.

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John Mooney // Getty Images

Meanwhile, Paul Stirling has been the best performed Irishman in this year’s County Cricket one-day cup, averaging 58 for Middlesex.  

HOW TO WATCH

You can watch the Ireland v Australia live on Fox Sports from 7.30pm AEST and follow live scores at cricket.com.au.

Video highllights, a full report and news and features will all be on cricket.com.au shortly after the conclusion of the match.

Australia's T20 and one-day series with England will return to free-to-air coverage with GEM and will also be live streamed on cricket.com.au and in the CA Live app.

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