Australia vs India: Alex Carey set to open alongside Aaron Finch in the first ODI

Young wicket-keeper Alex Carey, who had found himself in a ‘hit-wicket drama’ against India during the T20Is in November, is set to open the innings in the first ODI against the Men in Blue in Sydney on Saturday. Carey, a limited-over specialist, has played six ODIs and 19 T20Is since his international debut last year and is yet to score a fifty. The hosts also recalled pacer Peter Siddle who last played in a 50-over match for his country in November 2010.

The move to promote Carey up the batting order is an experiment the Australian selectors have decided to do as preparation for the World Cup, said the side’s limited-overs captain Aaron Finch.

“It’s just an opportunity to see Alex play in a position he’s done quite bit of now in Big Bash and one-day cricket.It’s a position that he’s performed really well within the last couple of years. He’ll get a good opportunity up there. We are starting to get a balanced side that we feel can adapt to a lot of different conditions.,” Finch, who will open with Carey, told reporters on Friday.

Usman Khawaja will be in at No.3 followed by the Test discard duo – Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb. Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell will be following next.

Siddle to play in ODIs after over eight years

In the bowling department, Siddle’s comeback after more than eight years has excited the bowler who said even he had forgotten about it and felt like a young kid getting his first opportunity on being recalled. Siddle played 17 ODI between 2009-10 picking up 15 wickets. Even retired Australian pacer Brett Lee played his last ODI two years after Siddle played his so far.

Apart from 34-year-old Siddle, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Lyon, who excelled in the recent Test series, make up the starting XI for the first game. The three spearheads Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been rested ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Australia XI for first ODI: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.

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