Maiden Australia ODI call for Cartwright, Cummins returns

Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday named all-rounder Hilton Cartwright for the first time in its 14-member One-Day International (ODI) squad that will face New Zealand in three matches, while pacer Pat Cummins marks his return following an injury-enforced lay-off.

Interim Chairman of Selectors Trevor Hohns said in a CA release: "Hilton bowls useful aggressive medium-pace and is a very good striker of the ball. He is an exciting young prospect for Australian cricket and we have been watching him at the pathway level for some time now."

The first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is in Sydney on December 4. The two sides then meet in Canberra and Melbourne on December 6 and 9, respectively.

The squad sees the return to international cricket for New South Wales' 23-year-old Cummins, who had been sidelined with a back injury he sustained representing Australia in an ODI back in September 2015.

"It is fantastic to see Pat back in Australian colours again. It has been a frustrating period for him but we are certainly excited to have him fit and firing ahead of this series," Hohns said.

Pacemen Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner too returned after missing Australia's 0-5 series loss to South Africa.

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner (vice-captain), George Bailey, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

--IANS

pur/dg