The international summer of cricket begins in Melbourne on Monday as the world champions host Pakistan in game one of a three match series. Can Australia continue their dominance in 50 over cricket or will Pakistan cause an upset at the ‘G?
Australia vs Pakistan: 1st ODI Preview & Betting Tips
MCG, Monday 4th November, 2:30pm AEST
Australia
Squad: Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
It’s a mix of youth and experience for Australia heading into the series, with nine players from the victorious 2023 World Cup squad featuring in the 15 man squad for this series. Young guns Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie and Cooper Connolly headline the next generation coming through for Australia.
Despite being ranked 2nd in the ODI rankings, Australia have comfortably been the best ODI side in the world over the past twelve months, winning the World Cup as well as series against West Indies and England. Australia won 14 straight ODI matches between October 2023 and September 2024 - the third longest winning streak in the history of ODI cricket. Australia have won six consecutive ODI series at home, and have won 13 of the last 16 ODI series played in Australia.
Pakistan
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Despite winning the Test series 2-1 against England after dusting up the pitches for the final two Tests, Pakistan cricket is in crisis once again. Gary Kirsten resigned as white ball coach less than a week ago without any reason, with Jason Gillespie taking the reins alongside his Test duties. This is the sixth coaching change Pakistan have had in 2 years, alongside multiple administration overhauls, and selection panels. Pakistan have used 26 different sectors since August 2021.
Pakistan haven’t played a One Day International since their failed 2023 World Cup, where they won only four of their nine group stage matches. Babar Azam will feature in his first match for Pakistan since being dropped from the Test team, this will be also the first series since he resigned as the white ball captain.
Match Prediction
Australia has not been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan in white ball cricket, winning just four of their last 24 ODI’s against Australia, in Australia. Australia have won 16 of their last 19 ODI matches against Pakistan, regardless of the venue Australia seem to have Pakistan’s number.
Australia have won eight of the last nine ODI series between the two teams, including the last two played in Australia 5-0 and 4-1. Given their turmoil with Pakistan cricket and the lack of white ball cricket played in the last twelve months, this should be a convincing win for the world champions.
Australia
$1.18 (3 Units)
Prop Bet
With Travis Head out of the series due to the upcoming birth of his second child, it’s been confirmed that Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will open the batting for Australia. Matt Short is coming off a knock of 80 in a one day match against star studded New South Wales bowling attack, and 6op scored with 58 in Australia’s last ODI against England.
Short scored 134 and 81 in his only two Marsh Cup games last season, he scored 301 runs at an average of 60.20 the season prior. In BBL13 he scored a tournament best 541 runs at an average of 60.11, in BBl12 he scored 458 runs which was the second most in the tournament and in BBL11 he scored the third most runs with 493 runs. Put simply, Short has absolutely dominated white ball cricket in Australia over the past four years, and is primed to succeed for his country.
Matt Short Top Australian Run Scorer
$5
