Unlikely hero’s stunning rise gets even better; end of road for young gun — Aussie white ball squads

Off the back of a stunning T20I debut tour of the West Indies, BBL sensation Mitchell Owen has earned a maiden ODI call-up for Australia’s white-ball series against South Africa in August.

Mitchell Marsh will lead two 14-player squads for the three T20s and three ODIs against the Proteas in Darwin, Cairns and Mackay, with Owen selected in both.

The hard-hitting Tasmanian burst onto the international scene with the scores of 50, 36 not out, 2 and 37 at an impressive strike rate of 192.30 in the 5-0 series victory in the West Indies that finished on Tuesday.

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Owen batted primarily at number six with one innings at number five in the Caribbean, but took the BBL by storm last summer opening the batting for the Hobart Hurricanes, smashing two centuries, including a 39-ball ton to earn player of the match honours in the final.

His versatility has been on show in T20 franchise leagues in South Africa, Pakistan, India and the United States, where he was player of the tournament in Major League Cricket, since, and it may be in national colours also as several big names return.

Mitchell Owen of Australia hits 4 during the fifth and final Twenty20 (T20) international cricket match between West Indies and Australia at Warner Park Sporting Complex in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, on July 28, 2025. (Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP) Source: AFP

'Get em out... don't let them get 100' | 00:59

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will continue to sit out from white ball duties in preparation for the upcoming Ashes, but Test teammates Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood return to both squads.

Matt Short is another who comes back into the selection equation after pulling out of the West Indies tour late with a side injury.

The inclusion of Head and Short bolsters Australia’s already healthy batting stocks in the shortest format, which means there was no room for Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly or Aaron Hardie who all featured in the Caribbeean.

Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Sean Abbott and Matt Kuhnemman have been named in the T2o squad only.

Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne is set to return to national colours as he was named in the ODI squad, and Test gloveman Alex Carey joins him as a 50-over only prospect.

So too are quicks Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett, who both debuted against the West Indies at home last year.

The selections mark significant change for Australia in ODIs with Steve Smith and Maxwell having retired from the format, while Connolly, Fraser-McGurk, Hardie, Spencer Johnson and Tanveer Sangha have been all left out after being in the squad for the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Hastings' 17-ball horror over | 02:15

Australia last played in Cairns three years ago in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand in what was former captain Aaron Finch’s farewell.

Their previous outing in Darwin was a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in 2008, while they are yet to play a men’s international in Mackay.

Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

Australia v South Africa T20Is 2025

August 10: First T20I v South Africa, Marrara Stadium, Darwin, 7pm AEST

August 12: Second T20I v South Africa, Marrara Stadium, Darwin, 7pm AEST

August 16: Third T20I v South Africa, Cazalys Stadium, Cairns, 7pm AEST

Australia v South Africa ODIs 2025

August 19: First ODI v South Africa, Cazalys Stadium, Cairns, 2:30pm AEST

August 22: Second ODI v South Africa, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 2:30pm AEST

August 24: Third ODI v South Africa, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 2:30pm AEST

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