Australia’s New ODI Line-Up: Mitch Marsh Leads Rebuilt Squad for South Africa Series

Australia ODI squad 2025 : Three key players have exited Australia’s ODI squad before the South Africa series, yet captain Mitch Marsh emphasizes that the team’s aggressive approach will remain unchanged.

Three major power hitters who played a crucial role in Australia’s T20 series victory over South Africa have left the squad ahead of the ODI series starting Tuesday, but the game plan remains intact.

Tim David and Glenn Maxwell, who single-handedly secured two of the three T20 wins, are out, while Mitch Owen, set for his ODI debut in Cairns, has been ruled out due to concussion.

Their aggressive batting approach in the shortest format showcased a daring new strategy, one that might need fine-tuning to handle an additional 30 overs as the game transitions to the longer format.

Australia’s Aggressive Batting Strategy to Continue Despite Key Absences

Captain Mitch Marsh, once again leading the side in Pat Cummins’ absence, acknowledged that while a “mindset” shift is required to adapt to the format’s demands, the commitment to batting with confidence remains.

“Spending three and a half hours in the field will feel a bit different for some of the boys,” Marsh said in Cairns on Monday. “But as a group, nothing really changes.

“It’s a slight mindset change—it’s a different format—but the approach stays the same.

The ODI line-up will also be without Steve Smith, who, like Maxwell, has stepped away from the 50-over format.

However, Marnus Labuschagne makes his return after being dropped from the Test squad, joining Marsh, opening partner Travis Head, white-ball star Cameron Green, and Josh Inglis as key batting options.

Young Talent in Focus: Cooper Connolly Only Fresh Prospect

Spending three and a half hours in the field will feel a bit different for some of the boys,” Marsh said in Cairns on Monday. “But as a group, nothing really changes.

“It’s a slight mindset change—it’s a different format—but the approach stays the same.

The ODI line-up will also be without Steve Smith, who, like Maxwell, has stepped away from the 50-over format.

With Pat Cummins and Mitch Starc absent, Josh Hazlewood takes charge of a bowling unit lacking a genuine strike option after “wild thing” Lance Morris pulled out due to another back problem.

The ODI squad is in the midst of a rebuild, though Cooper Connolly stands as the only true young prospect, while Jake Fraser-McGurk has slipped out of contention following a string of poor international performances.

Australia’s ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Adam Zampa.