Australia It ushered in a new chapter in the T20I setup by giving international debuts to three players in the opening match. Three match series against Pakistan Thursday, January 29 at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium.
Young pacer Mahli Beardman, all-rounder Jack Edwards and left-arm spinner Matthew Renshaw have all been included in the playing XI, marking a significant injection of youth and depth.
Travis Head leads Australia in Mitchell Marsh’s absence
With regular captain Mitchell Marsh arriving in Pakistan just hours before the match, the captaincy was handed over to Travis Head.
The absence of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Nathan Ellis and Glenn Maxwell for the Pakistan tour has also opened the door for outside players and local performers and given the team management a chance to assess the strength of the bench in subcontinental conditions.
Matthew Renshaw completes his all-format Australian tour
Among the debutants, Matthew Renshaw comes with the most experience at the elite level. Already capped in 14 Tests and three ODIs, the Queensland batsman now becomes an all-format international for Australia.
Renshaw earned his selection after a prolific Big Bash League campaign with the Brisbane Heat, where he scored his maiden BBL century during a remarkable 258-run knock against the Perth Scorchers. Renshaw’s role at No.4 will be crucial in stabilizing the middle order against Pakistan’s quality spin attack.
Jack Edwards was honored for his breakthrough BBL season
Sydney Sixers all-rounder Jack Edwards has been one of the most talked about names on the Australian domestic circuit over the past year. Spotting the ball in BBL|15, Edwards finished with 19 wickets – the second highest in the tournament. The ability to contribute with both bat and ball adds balance to Australia’s playing XI.
Mahli Beardman receives senior call-up after U-19 success
The youngest of the trio, 20-year-old Mahli Beardman, is making his first foray into senior international cricket after shining at junior level. Beardman was part of Australia’s under-19 World Cup winning campaign two years ago and has continued to develop as a genuine fast bowling prospect.
Representing the Perth Scorchers in the BBL, Beardman has shown pace and consistency, regularly hitting over 140km/h and finishing with 13 wickets from 11 matches. His inclusion signals Australia’s intent to invest in fast bowling depth for the future.
Also READ: This is the reason why Pakistan vs Australia T20I series is not telecast in India
Pakistan chose to bat first in the T20I series opener
In the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first, backing their batting depth on the usually good Gaddafi surface.
Australia (XI Game): Travis Head (c), Matthew Short, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman
Pakistan (XI Game): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.
Also READ: 10 little-known facts about Australia Women’s newly appointed all-format captain Sophie Molineux
