Australia heads into this eagerly anticipated ODI series against Pakistan with the confidence of their recent 3-2 victory over England in a hard-fought series in September, while keeping a keen focus on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash against India.
Meanwhile, Pakistan staged a remarkable turnaround during their home Test series against England, overcoming an abysmal start to ultimately secure a 2-1 victory on pitches conducive to spin. It’s important to note that it has been nearly a year since Pakistan last played in the 50-over format, making this series crucial for their preparation.
What’s the schedule?
November 4: MCG, 2.30pm AEDT
November 8: Adelaide Oval, 2.30pm AEDT
November 10: Perth Stadium, 2.30pm AEDT
How can I watch?
Fans will be thrilled to hear that every ball of this ODI series will be broadcast live and exclusively on Foxtel. Additionally, viewers can enjoy seamless streaming on Kayo Sports, ensuring they don’t miss a moment of the action.
Where do I find tickets?
Excitement is in the air as tickets for all three matches, including the highly-anticipated series opener on Melbourne Cup eve, remain available for purchase.
Be sure to head to the tickets link here to secure your seats for what promises to be an exhilarating series.
How else can I follow?
If you’re unable to attend the games or watch live, fear not! There are plenty of options available.
You’ll be able to catch up on all the highlights on cricket.com.au and through the CA Live app, where a dedicated crew will provide the latest news and video updates.
Replay every wicket in the CA Live app’s match centre, and don’t forget to enable push notifications to stay updated on all breaking news.
You can also subscribe and tune into The Unplayable Podcast, which is released every Thursday, covering both white-ball series against Pakistan, as well as the ongoing ‘A’ series and Sheffield Shield action.
What are the squads?
Australia boasts an almost full-strength squad, with the fast bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc taking the field to ramp up their bowling loads in preparation for the high-stakes India Tests.
The only notable omissions are Mitch Marsh and Travis Head, who are currently away on paternity leave, leaving a gap that will be felt.
Josh Inglis will serve as the sole wicketkeeper in the squad, aiming to replicate his dynamic domestic form on the international stage and stepping into a significant role.
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
On the other hand, Pakistan enters the series under the leadership of new captain Mohammad Rizwan, who carries the dual responsibility of wicketkeeping and leading the side amidst the pressure of the international arena.
Pakistan has assembled an impressive five-strong pace attack, featuring Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Aamer Jamal, with the intriguing possibility that all could play if Jamal bats at seven and off-spinning all-rounder Agha Salman fills in at six.
However, such a strategy may be a courageous step for Pakistan under coach Jason Gillespie. Anticipate the presence of spinning all-rounder Kamran Ghulam, fresh off an exceptional series against England, along with 19-year-old left-arm tweaker Arafat Minhas, who symbolizes a bright future for the team.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi
What’s going on with Pakistan?
Indeed, it’s vibrant times in Pakistan cricket with Jason Gillespie at the helm! Just one week prior to their opening tour match against Australia, head coach Gary Kirsten unexpectedly resigned from his role.
Kirsten had only been in position as the white-ball coach for six months, a notable appointment that was made in conjunction with Australian Jason Gillespie being appointed as the coach for red-ball cricket.
In light of the recent developments, Gillespie has stepped up to assume command of the white-ball teams on an interim basis, a situation that illustrates the dynamic nature of Pakistan coaching roles.
Star players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah may have faced challenges during their Test series against England, but they are set to return to form in Australia, determined to prove their value against the reigning World Champions.
Players to watch
Fans may remember Saim Ayub from the Sydney Test earlier this year, where the then-21-year-old made his Test debut. Now, after an outstanding domestic performance where he scored 156 in Pakistan’s One-Day Cup, he is on the cusp of potentially making his ODI debut against Australia.
No batter in Australia is in finer form than Josh Inglis, who recently powered his way to a T20I century against Scotland in September. He has followed this remarkable achievement up with consecutive hundreds in his Sheffield Shield matches this summer: 122 against Queensland and 101 against Tasmania.
It’s impossible to overlook Mitch Starc, renowned for his lethal left-arm bowling, and an outstanding ODI record, particularly on home turf. With 99 wickets at an impressive average of 21.41, he has consistently outperformed his overseas average of 26.74 runs per wicket.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will likely be eager to showcase his abilities and silence any critics after being dropped during the England Test series. Lacking experience in ODIs on Australian soil, he’ll be hoping the conditions favor him more than in his four Tests here, where he has averaged 39.76 with the ball.
Form guide
Past 10 matches, most recent match first, W = win, L = loss, N = no result
Australia: WLLWWWWWWW
The Aussie side has achieved notable success, competing in eight ODIs since their World Cup triumph in Ahmedabad last November, including a clean sweep of 3-0 over West Indies followed by a competitive 3-2 series win against England.
Pakistan: LWWLLLLWWL
For Pakistan, it will mark nearly a year since their last ODI match, which took place during last year’s ODI World Cup in India, making their return all the more momentous.
Australia v Pakistan limited-overs series 2024
Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Pakistan ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi
November 4: MCG, 2.30pm AEDT
November 8: Adelaide Oval, 2.30pm AEDT
November 10: Perth Stadium, 2.30pm AEDT
Australia T20 squad: Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Pakistan T20 squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Abbas Afridi, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan.
November 14: Gabba, 7.00pm AEDT
November 16: SCG: 7.00pm AEDT
November 18: Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 7.00pm AEDT
All matches live and exclusive on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports
### Interview with Cricket Analyst on Upcoming Australia vs Pakistan ODI Series
**Editor**: Welcome to our segment on the upcoming Australia vs Pakistan ODI series! Joining me today is renowned cricket analyst, Sam Thompson. Sam, it’s great to have you. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding this series. Can you give us an overview of what to expect?
**Sam Thompson**: Absolutely! This ODI series is highly anticipated for several reasons. Australia heads in with great confidence, coming off a series victory against England. They’ve demonstrated strong form in ODIs recently, which will certainly play to their advantage.
**Editor**: And what about Pakistan? They’ve had quite a turbulent time leading up to this series with a change in coaching staff and an almost year-long absence from ODIs.
**Sam Thompson**: Yes, that’s a crucial point. Pakistan recently pulled off a remarkable 2-1 victory over England in a Test series, but it has been almost a year since they’ve played an ODI. They need this series to prepare for future challenges. The new captain, Mohammad Rizwan, is stepping into a significant role, overseeing a squad that features some exciting young talent alongside established stars.
**Editor**: Speaking of talent, are there particular players you suggest fans keep an eye on during this series?
**Sam Thompson**: Definitely! For Australia, keep an eye on Josh Inglis. He’s been in terrific form, scoring centuries in recent domestic matches. Mitch Starc will also be pivotal with his ODI experience and ability to take wickets at home. From Pakistan, I’d highlight Saim Ayub, who is on the brink of his ODI debut, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who’s eager to prove himself after a challenging Test series.
**Editor**: The series opener is set for November 4 at the MCG—what can fans do to catch all the action?
**Sam Thompson**: Fans will be thrilled to know that every match will be broadcast live on Foxtel and can also be streamed on Kayo Sports. If you can’t watch live, highlights will be available on cricket.com.au and via the CA Live app, which is a great resource for updates and replays.
**Editor**: what is your prediction for the outcome of this series?
**Sam Thompson**: With Australia’s recent form and home advantage, I’d lean towards them being the favorites. However, don’t count Pakistan out; they have the ability to spring surprises, especially with their pace attack. It should definitely be an exciting series!
**Editor**: Thanks for your insights, Sam! We’re looking forward to this thrilling ODI series. Don’t forget to secure your tickets and catch the matches live!
