As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Brad Haddin has been rested from the first three matches of the series, his place taken by the Victorian gloveman Matthew Wade. Marsh has been sent back to domestic ranks to find some form with the bat after a wretched Test series against India, and the national selector John Inverarity made it clear that he had not merely been spelled.

There was no place either for the young NSW allrounder Steve Smith, who will need to concentrate on stronger performances in the Sheffield Shield before he can return, despite his lofty ranking in last year’s round of Cricket Australia contracts.

Australia ODI squad

Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Ricky Ponting, Peter Forrest, Daniel Christian, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade, Brett Lee, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay, Mitchell Marsh

“Peter Forrest, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, Dan Christian and Clint McKay are in form and will have a chance to either prove or further prove themselves on the international stage,” the national selector John Inverarity said.

“Brad Haddin has come off a heavy program of Test cricket – the workload for a wicketkeeper/batsman is rigourous and resting him for the start of the series will refresh him for coming international commitments while also giving us a chance to look at Matt Wade at this level.

“We have not at this stage named a vice-captain for the first three games with Brad resting and Shane Watson still unavailable while he completes his recovery from injury, and will assess that position when the squad assembles. Peter Forrest, in great form for Queensland and also for his BBL side this summer, comes into the group but will remain available for the PM’s Xl game in Canberra this Friday, where he is vice-captain to Brad Haddin.

“Shaun Marsh is obviously disappointed with his own form in recent weeks and is out of the side but remains in our thinking for the future while he works at state level – as they say, class is permanent but form can be temporary.”

Strong form in the Twenty20 Big Bash League has helped David Hussey win a recall to the team, while Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty and Mitchell Starc join Harris in the bowling attack. Harris will play his first ODIs for Australia since 2010, having been cast as a Test match specialist for most of the preceding 12 months.

Mitchell Marsh, the younger brother of Shaun, will join the squad after the first two ODI matches so he can first take part on Western Australia’s next Shield fixture.