Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been rested from a near full-length squad to face South Africa in their pre-World Cup series with the world number one ODI spot at stake.
The Australians will play five One-Day International (ODI) matches against the World No.1 side starting November 14, with the first two to be played on the pace-friendly pitches of Western Australia, reports Xinhua
The selectors said Haddin had been granted a break to freshen up ahead of the home summer Tests beginning in December, giving fellow keeper Matthew Wade a return to international duty. Australia have included a battery of six pace bowlers and no specialist spinners in the 13-man squad for first two games of next month’s five-match home ODI series against the Proteas, with those matches on the pace-friendly Waca pitch in Perth on 14 and 16 November.
All rounder James Faulkner and paceman Mitchell Starc have been released to play in domestic league, Sheffield Shield, while Josh Hazlewood has been called into the national ODI squad after overcoming back injury woes.
Hazlewood, who has played two ODIs for Australia, one each on the 2010 and 2013 tours of England, joins fellow pacemen Mitchell Johnson, Kane Richardson and Nathan Coulter-Nile as well as all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Shane Watson.
Australia national team selector Rod Marsh said that they are pleased with the batting line-up that they have at their disposal, adding that it has a great balance with the likes of Warner, Aaron Finch and Watson at the top of the order complemented by players such as Michael Clarke, George Bailey and Steve Smith.
South Africa claimed the ODI number one ranking from Australia this week.
