Smith to captain as Australia blood Johnson in second ODI

Australia captain Pat Cummins will sit out today's second ODI against India with Steve Smith taking the reins of a side out to snap a four-match losing streak in Indore.

The visitors have made three changes after going down to India by five wickets in Mohali on Friday, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Josh Hazlewood recalled, and left-arm pace sensation Spencer Johnson to make his debut.

Australia XI: David Warner, Matt Short, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Spencer Johnson

 

India XI: Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (c, wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna

Smith won the toss elected to bowl at Holkar Stadium on Sunday with India making one change to their side that cruised to a five-wicket victory two days ago, with Prasidh Krishna replacing Jasprit Bumrah.

Mitch Marsh has been rested with Matt Short listed to open alongside David Warner after making his debut at No.8 in the first ODI.

Marcus Stoinis will also sit out the second of three matches against India leading into the World Cup, with fellow WA allrounder Cameron Green to bat at No.7.

While Australia no doubt has their eye on the bigger picture with their 50-over World Cup opener against India in Chennai just two weeks away, they will also be keen to bounce back after losing the first ODI following three straight losses in South Africa.

South Australian speedster Johnson served as Mitchell Starc's 'body double' for a television commercial almost a decade ago and it was the fellow left-armer that presented him with ODI cap No.243.

The 27-year-old made his T20 international debut during Australia's recent tour of South Africa but picked up a hamstring injury at training and missed the one-day leg.

Johnson burst onto the scene for the Brisbane Heat last summer in the Big Bash before going on to take six wickets on Sheffield Shield debut for South Australia and landing a deal with Oval Invincibles in the Hundred.

Josh Inglis also maintains his place in the side after impressing with 45 at the death on Friday and gets another chance to press his claims for a specialist batting role in the World Cup.

"In the past I have played as just purely a batsman as well and I quite enjoy my fielding, so there's no issues with that at all," Inglis said following the first ODI.

"I'm just trying to play some cricket, string some games together and put some performances on the board.

"Make them (the selectors) have to pick me almost."

2023 Qantas Tour of India

September 22: India win by five wickets

September 24: Second ODI, Indore (D/N), 6pm AEST

September 27: Third ODI, Rajkot (D/N), 6pm AEST

Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

India squad for first two ODIs: KL Rahul (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan , Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

India squad for the third ODI: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj