Owen Earns Maiden ODI Call-Up; Head, Hazlewood Return For South Africa Series

Mitchell Owen has received his maiden ODI call-up after a standout performance in the T20I series against the West Indies. The 23-year-old impressed as a finisher, scoring 125 runs in four innings at an average of 41.66 and a strike rate of 192.30,

Owen has been named in Australia’s squad for the three-match ODI series against South Africa in August. He joins a squad led by Mitchell Marsh, who will captain both the T20I and ODI sides in the absence of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who have been rested.

Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood return to both formats after missing Australia’s 5-0 T20I clean sweep over the West Indies.

Australia will face South Africa in three T20Is (August 10, 12, and 16), followed by three ODIs (August 19, 22, and 24), with matches set to be played in Darwin, Cairns, and Mackay.

Owen has featured in 17 List A matches, scoring 326 runs at an average of 25.07 and a strike rate of 145.53. In last season’s One-Day Cup, he smashed a remarkable 149 off 69 balls for Tasmania against South Australia.

Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, and Xavier Bartlett - all part of the West Indies T20I tour - have been left out of the T20I squad. However, Bartlett will play in the ODI series. Fast bowler Lance Morris also returns to the 50-over setup.

“As we build towards the T20 World Cup the flexibility and depth shown in the West Indies, outside of the obvious results, has been a huge positive. The flexibility within the batting order and ability of bowlers to bowl in different stages of the innings were particularly pleasing to see,” chair of selectors George Bailey said.

"Mitch Owen and Matt Kuhnemann making their respective debuts and the preparation and work done by Nathan Ellis to allow him to play all five matches were highlights."

Since Australia’s last ODI appearance at the Champions Trophy in March, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith have retired from the 50-over format. Fraser-McGurk, Connolly, Hardie, Sean Abbott, and Tanveer Sangha have also been left out of that squad. Left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson is unavailable due to injury.

“With a smaller squad for a home series and the return of Head and Hazlewood, some players miss out on this Top End tour,” said Bailey. “But everyone remains in contention. We expect strong competition for spots through the South Africa series and into tours of New Zealand and India later this year.”

"The smaller squad for a home series, along with the return of Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood, see some players not part of the squad for this Top End series, but all remain in the frame moving forward and we feel the entire group embraced every opportunity," Bailey said.

"We expect that to continue through this series, and the New Zealand and Indian series later this year, as we balance continued opportunities for players and the preparation for the Test summer."

Australia T20I squad vs South Africa

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

Australia ODI squad vs South Africa

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa