Australian pacer Pat Cummins' has been called up to the national squad for the rest of the ODI series against South Africa, getting a major boost for his World Cup plans.
The electric fast bowler impressed with outstanding performances in the recent Twenty20 internationals against South Africa and Cricket Australia has said that the 21-year-old fast bowler is in their plans for February's home World Cup.
His fellow NSW quick Mitchell Starc has convinced selectors that his groin injury isn't serious enough to keep him out of the squad and he would replace Mitchell Johnson in the original squad for the final three matches starting Wednesday in Canberra, News.com.au reported.
Xavier Doherty is the favourite to become Australia's World Cup spinner after being called up along with fellow Tasmanian James Faulkner. All-rounder Faulkner was named in the ICC ODI team of the year and deserves a chance to press his claims.
Faulkner would only join the squad for the final two matches, given his current Sheffield Shield game with Tasmania doesn't conclude until Wednesday.
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Fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh would remain with the squad for the third match of the series in Canberra before returning to Perth to link up with Western Australia ahead of round four of the Shield.
Selectors made the decision not to replace Clarke with another specialist batsman like Cameron White, instead relying on Steve Smith and George Bailey to settle into the middle order positions.
Johnson and Clarke are the only two players to drop out of the original squad for the first two matches in Perth, Clarke with his hamstring injury and Johnson due to a Cricket Australia decision to rest him ahead of the Test series against India.
National selector Rod Marsh said that the final squad had been settled on with the upcoming Test series in mind.
Australia's ODI squad is: George Bailey (captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson.
