All-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh along with pacer, Jhye Richardson returned from injury layoffs as Australia named a strong 16-member ODI squad for the three-match series against India starting next month. Australia will treat the short series between March 17 and 22 as a preparation for the World Cup 2023 in India. The matches will be played in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai.

Glenn Maxwell has regained match fitness by returning to action for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield this week. Marsh will be returning to competitive cricket in the Marsh One-Day Cup this weekend for Western Australia. Right-arm fast bowler, Richardson too has returned to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. The 26-year-old has also not played for Australia since the white-ball leg of their tour of Sri Lanka last year.

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Talking about the selections, chief selector, George Bailey said, “Glenn, Mitchell and Jhye are all important players in what we think the squad might look like come October.”

Captain Pat Cummins (illness in the family), David Warner (hairline fracture in left elbow), and Ashton Agar (poor form), who all returned to Australia after the second Test in Delhi, have been named in the ODI squad. Cummins will be returning before the third Test while opener Warner and southpaw spinner Agar will join the team before the ODI series.

But veteran fast bowler, Josh Hazlewood was left out after he too returned home early with an Achilles’ injury.

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Describing the same, George Bailey said, “It would be great for Josh to be part of this series but we have taken a conservative view ahead of a very important winter in England of which he will be an integral part. With the World Cup just over seven months away, these matches in India are an important step in our preparation.”

Australia ODI squad for India tour: Pat Cummins (capt), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa