Australia’s Pattinson left out of ODI opener

England rest Broad, Pietersen ahead of five-match series starting today.

MELBOURNE:

Australia have left out fit-again paceman James Pattinson for Sunday’s opening One-Day International (ODI) with England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Skipper Michael Clarke admitted at his pre-match media conference on Saturday he had no answers on why Pattinson was not selected.

Pattinson’s absence comes as Australia rest their Ashes player of the series and leading wicket-taker Mitchell Johnson from game one of the five-match ODI series.

Opening batsman Shaun Marsh has also been unable to win selection for Sunday’s opener, with Aaron Finch is likely to partner David Warner at the top of the order and Shane Watson at number three.

While Australia’s ODI series with England is a crucial warm-up for the 2015 World Cup, it’s also a chance for players like Pattinson to audition for a spot in the Test squad to tour South Africa.

“That’s probably a question for the selectors,” Clarke told reporters. “I don’t know what they said to James and I don’t know why they decided to not pick him.”

Meanwhile, England have rested star batsman Kevin Pietersen for the ODI series, while paceman Stuart Broad will miss the first two games.

“We came here to take the Ashes home,” said England skipper Alastair Cook. “Now that we’ve lost them, if we win this one-day series we salvage some pride from our performances.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2014.

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