Australia v Pakistan first ODI: Openers take centre stage

Australia and Pakistan meet in the first of three ODIs on Monday and, with changes aplenty in both camps, there is lots to look forward to when the series gets underway at the MCG.

The two teams then meet on Friday at the Adelaide Oval, before the series wraps up in Perth on Sunday.

The Baggy Greens will have a new-look opening partnership with both Travis Head and Mitch Marsh away on paternity leave, while Pakistan have a new captain in the shape of wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.

. What: Australia v Pakistan, first ODI
. Where: MCG, Melbourne
. When: 14:30 (AEST), Monday 4th November
. How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo
. Odds: Australia 1.20, Pakistan 4.50

Victorians hope to use home comforts

With a reshuffle needed at the top of the order dues to absences, Australia have handed two Victorians the opportunity to go in first, with Matt Short forming the opening partnership with Jake Fraser-McGurk.

Fraser-McGurk is one of three changes from the last time the Aussies took to the field in an ODI - in England - with Sean Abbott and skipper Pat Cummins the other returnees and Josh Hazlewood omitted to focus on the upcoming Test series with India.

Short made 58 in the series finale in England and added 80 for his state side against NSW in his most recent knock, while Fraser-McGurk will have a point to prove after not featuring in the one-dayers in England.

He could only make two for South Australia against Queensland in the One-Day Cup, but did record a first international half-century in his previous knock - in a T20I against England.

Explosive right-hander Fraser-McGurk is 5.00 to be top Australia batter at the MCG, with Short priced at 4.75 and that pairing should have the okay to go on the attack, with the experienced duo of Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne backing them up.

Further down the order fireworks can be expected of Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell and Abbott, while Josh Inglis will hope to build on superb form which has seen him make centuries in successive Sheffield Shield outings for Western Australia.

With the ball, Cummins will be supported by long-time team-mate Mitchell Starc, while leg-spinner Adam Zampa is the main spin option and will be buoyed by having taken 21 wickets in 11 previous ODI matches against Pakistan.

Zampa, who took 4-31 against England at the MCG back in November 2022, is 4.33 to be team top bowler on Monday.

Pakistan are arriving on a high

Not too long ago, Pakistan appeared to be well and truly in the doldrums, but turning around a home Test series against England to win 2-1 will have significantly lifted morale.

Mohammad Rizwan takes up the captaincy after Babar Azam stepped aside, but the latter is included in the tourists' squad, despite being jettisoned after a heavy loss in the first Test of three with England.

The same is true of fast-bowling pair Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, who join a potent seam attack which also features Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain and Aamer Jamal.

With the bat both Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq have been left at home, meaning that much will be expected from Abdullah Shafique at the top of the order, with the 24-year-old right-hander having made a century and four 50s from 12 ODI innings to date.

Babar will no doubt be eager to impress after his recent Test axing and he has a truly outstanding ODI record, averaging 56.72 in making 5,729 runs in 114 innings.

He has made three one-day centuries in 10 previous matches against Australia and has only been dismissed once for less than 30, so it is no surprise to see him as 3.75 market leader to be team top batter at the MCG.

bet365 News Team

• Pakistan Cricket
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