McDermott added to ODI squad

Tasmania batsman Ben McDermott is in line to make his ODI debut after he was added to Australia’s squad for the remaining two matches of the series against South Africa.

Australia has called up McDermott as cover if Shaun Marsh is not passed fit for Friday’s game at the Adelaide Oval.

Marsh missed the opening match of the Gillette One-Day Series in Perth on Sunday with an "abscess in his buttock region" that will require "minor surgery".

“The National Selection Panel has decided to add Ben McDermott to the ODI squad ahead of Friday’s match against South Africa at the Adelaide Oval,” National Selector Trevor Hohns said.

“Part of the decision to include Ben is to ensure we have appropriate coverage should Shaun Marsh fail to recover in time for Friday’s second ODI.

“We will continue to monitor Shaun’s progress and give him every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the match.”

McDermott made his T20I debut for Australia last month, playing four matches against the UAE and Pakistan.

The 23-year-old made an unbeaten 10 against the UAE before returning scores of 0, 3 and 21 against Pakistan.

McDermott was the second highest run-scorer in this year’s JLT One-Day Cup behind Queensland’s Chris Lynn, hitting 427 runs at an average of 71.16.

He hit centuries against Queensland and South Australia to put his name up in lights.

McDermott shot to prominence when he smacked a match-winning 114 from 52 for the Hobart Hurricanes in the KFC Big Bash League in January, 2017.

Australia suffered a six-wicket loss in the opening match of the ODI series with South Africa.

Australia v Proteas, Gillette ODI series, November 2018

First ODI: South Africa won by six wickets

Second ODI: Adelaide Oval, November 9

Third ODI: Blundstone Arena, Hobart, November 11

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn.