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Australia have brought in Tim David for the ODI series against South Africa in the absence of Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith.
Tim David has been included in the Australian ODI squad for the four-match series in South Africa. Australia added David to the squad to provide themselves with an extra middle-order option. Following the T20 series, he was supposed to join Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL but will now stay in South Africa.
David, who blasted 64 off 28 balls in the first T20I on Wednesday, is uncapped in ODIs. He has only played 16 matches in his List A career, averaging 82.77 at a strike-rate of 123.14. However, only one of those matches came in the Australian domestic scene while the rest have been for Singapore and Surrey.
Australia are without Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith on this tour. Maxwell was due to leave after T20s for the birth of his first child but suffered an ankle injury which ruled him out of the T20Is as well. Smith, on the other hand, was ruled out of the tour with a wrist injury he sustained in the Ashes. Mitchell Starc is also unavailable for the series with a groin injury.
In the absence of Smith and Maxwell, David is likely to get some opportunities in the ODI series but it is unlikely that he will force his way into the ODI World Cup squad. The Australian team management is looking at it as a way to expose him to the 50-over game and see how he adapts. Australia will name a 15-member squad next week but can make changes till September 28.
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“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.” said selector Tony Dodemaide.
David reminded the X factor he brings and displayed his power in the first T20I. He provided Australia much needed acceleration in the middle overs and was the aggressor in the 97-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh for the fifth wicket. David’s knock helped Australia post 226 on the board after being 77 for 4 at one point.
The stand-in captain Mitch Marsh spoke highly of the Singapore-born power-hitter and wants him to play as many games for Australia as possible.
“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. We’ve got full faith. I want him to play however he wants to play every game. He’s an outstanding asset for Australian cricket,” said Marsh.
The regular skipper Pat Cummins will link up with the ODI squad in South Africa but is unlikely to play as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury. He will most likely make his return during the series in India at the end of September, with Marsh continuing to lead on this ongoing tour.
Australia ODI squad vs South Africa: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Sean Abbott, David Warner, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Tim David, Travis Head, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Tanveer Sangha, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
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