Watson, Lyon ignored as Australia me ODI squad against India

Sydney, Jan 4: Veteran all-rounder Shane Watson and off-spinner than Lyon were ignored as Australia on Monday announced their 13-member squad for the first three matches of the One-Day Intertiol (ODI) series against India starting in Perth on January 12.

Australian selectors med Glenn Maxwell as the only spinner in the squad citing the pitches in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney would assist quick bowlers. Uncappped fast bowlers Scott Boland and Joel Paris are in line for their intertiol debuts after being med in the squad.

Test batsmen Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns were also not included in the ODI squad that will assemble in Perth on Friday, with Australia’s Twenty20 skipper Aaron Finch, former T20 captain George Bailey and recently-dropped Test batsman Shaun Marsh all med in the top order.

Watson announced his Test retirement during the One-Day series against England after last year’s failed Ashes series campaign to focus on limited-overs cricket, but a poor showing in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Sydney Thunder was a good enough reason for selectors to leave the 34-year-old out of the squad.

Lyon earlier made it clear he wants to play limited-overs cricket for his country, but selectors, for the time being, have found no room for him despite his success at Test and domestic T20 level recently.

Skipper Steven Smith will lead the side alongside vice-captain David Warner.

tiol selector Rod Marsh said the two young quicks (Boland and Paris) deserved their chance at intertiol cricket.

South Australian paceman Kane Richardson returns to the side having last played for Australia against the visiting South Africans in Canberra in 2014.

Australia ODI Squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, George Bailey, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Joel Paris, Matthew Wade. IANS