Tim David Adds Firepower to Australia’s ODI Squad for South Africa Tour
Australia bolsters ODI squad with explosive uncapped Tim David after his T20 heroics. Power hitter’s inclusion adds middle-order strength. Injuries sideline key players, Marsh to lead. Squad poised for South Africa challenge.
In a move aimed at enhancing their middle-order options, Cricket Australia has included Tim David in the ODI squad for the upcoming series against South Africa. Despite being uncapped in ODIs, David’s recent explosive performance in the T20I series opener has caught the selectors’ attention. The first T20I, held in Durban, saw David showcase his power-hitting skills as he blazed his way to a thrilling 64 off just 28 balls.
Originally set to join the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League after the T20 series, David’s plans have taken a detour due to his inclusion in the ODI squad. While his List A experience is limited, with just 16 matches to his name, his remarkable average of 82.77 and a strike rate of 123.14 have highlighted his potential.
Interestingly, most of David’s List A matches have been played outside of Australia. Apart from a solitary game on the domestic scene, his appearances have been for Singapore and Surrey. Despite his unconventional journey, David’s ability to adapt and flourish in various conditions has clearly not gone unnoticed.
Selector Tony Dodemaide expressed the rationale behind David’s inclusion, stating, “Tim is already here for the T20 series which offers an opportunity to see how his game can translate to the one-day format. He will provide an extra option for us in that power role at the back end of an innings.”
In the aforementioned T20I, David’s remarkable partnership with newly-appointed captain Mitchell Marsh turned the game around for Australia. Their fifth-wicket stand of 97 lifted Australia from a challenging 77 for 4 to an imposing total of 226 for 6.
Marsh, full of praise for David’s abilities, remarked, “The great thing about Tim is he’s very level-headed. He knows his role in T20 cricket can be inconsistent, but his ability to win us matches is why he’s in this team. He’s an outstanding asset for Australian cricket.”
Australia will be without key players like Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, and Mitchell Starc for the ODIs in South Africa. Maxwell had already planned to return home for the birth of his first child, but an ankle injury in the T20Is expedited his departure. Smith’s wrist injury sustained during the Ashes will keep him out of the series as well. To replace Smith, Marnus Labuschagne has been added to the squad.
Pat Cummins, who is recovering from a wrist injury, will join the ODI squad in South Africa but is unlikely to feature until the series in India later in the month. In the absence of these players, Mitchell Marsh will continue to lead the Australian side.
The 15-member squad includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talents: Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Tanveer Sangha, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, and Adam Zampa. The team will aim to capitalize on Tim David’s power-hitting prowess and put up strong performances in the ODI series against South Africa.
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