Welcome to news.com.au’s live coverage of the first ODI between Australia and the West Indies at the MCG.
Australia’s first-choice fast bowling cartel and Allan Border medallist Mitch Marsh are being rested for this series, opening the door for Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett to make their international debuts in the three match series.
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It’s a new look team featuring BBL superstar Matt Short, but youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk will have to wait to make his debut.
Follow below for live updates.
3.30pm – MCG crowd is grim
There’s only a sprinkling of fans inside the MCG for the game, with the wide expanses of empty grey seats hard to ignore.
CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny tweeted: “Look it’s not packed.”
Sports reporter Roy Ward said: “Glorious day at the MCG for the one-dayer between Australia and West Indies but crowd looks very modest to start with. Hopefully it picks up a little once work finishes.”
Cricket journalist Andrew Wu added: “Beautiful day for cricket in Melbourne. Not many here at the MCG. I’m showing my age. Australia v West Indies in an MCG ODI used to be one of the hottest tickets in town.”
3.14pm – Bartlett takes another!
Xavier Bartlett has made the perfect start to his ODI debut, taking another wicket with an outswinger that caught the outside edge of West Indies captain Shai Hope.
Bartlett has figures of 3/8 off five overs. The Brisbane Heat paceman was the leading wicket taker in the Big Bash and he’s continued his excellent form in the canary yellow.
2.55pm – Aussie debutant on fire early
All the talk has been about when Lance Morris will make his Australian debut, but it’s the other fast bowling debutant who has done the early damage at the MCG.
After Steve Smith won the toss and chose to bowl, Morris and Xavier Bartlett made history as the first pair of debutants to open the bowling for Australia in a home ODI since 1997.
Bartlett clean bowled Justin Greaves with a peach of an outswinger, before taking his second wicket when Alick Athanaze edged through to Josh Inglis.
2.30pm – 21yo’s omission a ‘missed opportunity’
He replaced Glenn Maxwell in the squad but Jake Fraser-McGurk wasn’t picked to make his debut despite being the most exciting white ball batting prospect in Australia.
“I think it’s a bit of a missed opportunity,” Whateley said on SEN of Fraser-McGurk’s omission from the team.
“You go sort of halfway there, generate the excitement by putting him in the squad, but then don’t please the crowd by playing him.
“I understand the integrity of selection and pecking orders and that is the right pecking order for this squad.
2.15pm – New look Australian team named
Australia XI: Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Short, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Lance Morris, Adam Zampa
West Indies X: Justin Greaves, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c, wk), Kaven Hodge, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Hayden Walsh Jr., Gudakesh Motie, Oshane Thomas
Originally published as Australia vs West Indies 1st ODI live: Aussie debutant on fire early