‌AUS vs PAK | Fraser-McGurk and Abott return as Australia name playing XI for MCG clash

Australia is all set to resume its preparatory measures for the 2025 Champions Trophy with a five-match ODI series slated against Pakistan. Pat Cummins is all set to return to international cricket and lead the Kangaroos, having last played in the 2024 T20 World Cup where India and Afghanistan knocked them in the Super Eight stages. 

Cummins would be accompanied by Mitchell Starc in the pace department with Sean Abbott making a comeback after being left out of the England series. Josh Hazlewood will be missing the first ODI and is likely to join the community before the second ODI at Adelaide, after playing a Shield game for New South Wales. On his behalf, Aaron Hardie is yet another option who could roll his arm with seam-up bowling. 

Apart from Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, and Travis Head will be absent from the ODIs as they are on paternity leave. So, this will be the first time familiar Victorian faces, Matt Short and Fraser-McGurk will be teaming up to open the batting for the Aussie side. As Cummins highlighted before the match, the openers will be given the license to employ a gung-ho approach in the series. 

"Both of them in T20 and one-dayers have been pretty scary to bowl at so that's our message to them. My preference would be they give it a good crack for sure" Cummins expressed. 

Cummins warmed up during the summer with New South Wales in the recently concluded round, his first appearance in three years for the State. The pacer also opened up on his minimal chances of participating in the last three ODIs with the focus switching to the red-ball format. 

Australia playing XI v Pakistan for first ODI: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa