It is a massive day for Josh Inglis as only hours after being announced in the Test squad for the first match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, he will lead his country for the first time.
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The West Australian wicketkeeper batter has been handed the captaincy for the third and final ODI against Pakistan as well as for the upcoming three T20Is as Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh prepare for the first Test.
The 29-year-old will be in charge of a new-look side as the Australians make five changes for the series decider.
Fast bowling trio Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood along with batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne will all sit out as their focus shifts to the red ball.
Quicks Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson and Lance Morris fill the void of the big three, while Marcus Stoinis and Cooper Connolly come into the top seven.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first.
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Australia’s batters have under-fired in the two games so far with them being bowled out for 163 as they were crushed by nine wickets in Adelaide on Friday after Pat Cummins saved the day with 32 not out to chase 203 eight wickets down at the MCG on Monday.
The pressure will be on openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short to get going after they have both been out cheaply trying to get the team off to a flyer.
Inglis and Glenn Maxwell will be the only batters from Australia’s World Cup final victory twelve months ago in the side on Sunday and will also need to shoulder a lot of the responsibility.
As for Pakistan, the Jason Gillespie coached side will be hoping Haris Rauf continues his stunning form.
The fast bowler who rose to prominence playing for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash took five wickets at the Adelaide Oval to follow up a fiery three-wicket spell at the MCG.
At the top of the order, Saim Ayub was superb with 82 off 71 balls last game and his opening partner Abdullah Shafique was also excellent with 64 not out off 69, and they will be crucial again to not expose their batting line-up – which showed in Melbourne that it can be brittle – early.
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