Head hits record ton in ODI return as Pakistan halt Aussies’ progress – LIVE – Fox Sports

Welcome to live coverage of Australia’s first ODI against Pakistan. First ball: 9pm AEDT

Travis Head is flying at the top of the order and has Australia on top early against Pakistan after being sent in to bat.

Head has hit nine boundaries and a six inside the opening seven overs, with the left-handing racing to 46 off 26.

“Travis Head is simply putting on a left-handed, top order batting show against the white ball,” Mike Haysman said.

“That’s how well he’s playing right now. Any width whatsoever he’s hammering through the off-side for four.”

The South Australia is playing his first ODI since 2018.

Haysman added: “Someone’s got to stop the bleeding,” as Australia continued their early onslaught.

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Australia’s hopes of completing, let alone winning, their ODI series against Pakistan took a hit on Tuesday when Ashton Agar became the second player ruled out after testing positive to Covid.

A day after Josh Inglis contracted the virus, Agar was ruled out on the morning of the opening match in Lahore.

Cricket Australia confirmed Agar’s positive Covid result on Tuesday afternoon, stating: “Australian spinner Ashton Agar tested positive to Covid this morning, making him unavailable for the one-day international series against Pakistan in Lahore.”

Team physiotherapist Brendan Wilson has also tested positive.

While all other players and staff returned negative results, a shiver will have run down the spines of the touring party.

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Already Australia’s T20 hero Mitchell Marsh is out with injury.

It means Australia has just 13 players available, with Inglis facing another four day in quarantine.

Despite that, the show must go on and for bowlers Mitch Swepson and Nathan Ellis the duo have been handed their debuts.

Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne meanwhile make their returns to the one day side.

With David Warner missing Head will open the batting, while Labuschagne will come in at No.4 behind Ben McDermott.

Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green form a new-look middle-order pairing.

A day after Josh Inglis tested positive to Covid, Ashton Agar is the latest to be ruled out of their ODI opener against Pakistan in Lahore. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Queensland batter Matt Renshaw is on his way to Pakistan, but he must serve three days isolation when he arrives.

The series is part of the 13-team ODI Super League in which every match carries 10 points, with the top seven qualifying automatically for the World Cup next year.

Australia are currently seventh and Pakistan 10th, but both have played just three of their eight scheduled series. India have already qualified as hosts.

Australia were already without key players David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Steve Smith for various reasons and have been further hit by the loss of all-rounder Marsh, their hero when they won the T20 World Cup in November.

All five senior players were part of the team that won the three-match Test series 1-0 last week, on Australia’s first tour of Pakistan in 24 years.

Skipper Aaron Finch fears that the 30-year-old Marsh may miss the whole ODI series.

“Mitch injured his hip flex during fielding drills on Sunday,” Finch said on Monday.

“We have to wait and see, but I don’t think he will be available for the series based on how he was feeling yesterday.”

Finch hopes new players such as Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Ellis and Ben McDermott will rise to the occasion despite their inexperience.

“At times that can be a real blessing because you have the ability for guys to just play freely and express themselves,” said Finch.

“It’s about trying to build the depth in the squad and experience in players,” he added.

Finch can take heart from the fact that Pakistan have not won an ODI series against them since 2002, with Australia winning eight of the 11 — the last seven in succession.

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman said his team was looking for maximum 30 points from the series.

“They are missing some big names so that will make a difference,” he said. “But it’s an international team and we are not going to take them lightly because Australia is known for doing well in all situations and all circumstances.”

Fakhar vowed Pakistan will put the Test series loss behind them.

“Our captain has spoken that what has happened is beyond us… this is a new series so we will do our best to win it.”

The next two ODIs will be on Thursday and Saturday, also in Lahore.

TEAMS

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Mitch Swepson

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shaker, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Haris Rauf, Zahid Mahmood,

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