Marsh reveals Australia's preferred top six for ODI World Cup ahead of England series

NewsSports NewsCricket NewsMitchell Marsh reveals Australia's preferred top six for 2027 ODI World Cup ahead of England series Mitchell Marsh reveals Australia's preferred top six for 2027 ODI World Cup ahead of England series Edited by Nitesh Dubey / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Nov 12, 2026, 20:01 IST Australia have begun shaping their batting plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh identifying the top six he expects to form the core of the team's campaign.

With limited opportunities to experiment in the format before the global tournament, Marsh indicated that the combination set to feature against England is likely to remain Australia's preferred batting line-up.According to Cricinfo, the first ODI against England in Perth on Friday will offer a glimpse of Australia's potential World Cup combination, with Marsh, Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Matt Renshaw, Josh Inglis and Cameron Green expected to occupy the top six positions.With Australia not scheduled to play another ODI series until mid-2027, the upcoming three-match series against England will be an important opportunity for the team to build combinations ahead of the World Cup.

Watch Marsh expressed confidence in the current batting group, suggesting that the players selected for the England series are likely to form the backbone of Australia's World Cup plans."We've got a batting line-up that I see being at that World Cup, and it's sort of where we end up," Marsh said ahead of the ODI series, as quoted by Cricinfo.

The absence of Steven Smith, who no longer plays ODI cricket, and Marnus Labuschagne, who has not featured in the format since July, has also brought the current batting combination into sharper focus. Labuschagne was part of Australia's 2023 ODI World Cup-winning squad but has endured a difficult run of form in recent months, which also saw him lose his place in the Test team.Australia rest senior fast bowlers ahead of England series While Australia are looking to settle their batting combination, their bowling attack will be without some of its biggest names for the series.

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc have been rested as they prepare for the upcoming Test assignments, providing an opportunity for the younger fast bowlers to make an impression.One of the players set to benefit is Western Australian pacer Mahli Beardman, who has been confirmed to make his international debut in the opening ODI in Perth.Join conversation Marsh backed the young fast bowler's ability and expressed excitement about seeing him make his international debut on home soil."Easy one for me being West Australian.

He [Beardman] is straight in. He's an amazing talent. He's a ripping young kid. For a young kid, he really understands his game early on," Marsh said.Australia and England will begin their three-match ODI series in Perth on Friday.

The second match will be played in Adelaide, followed by the series finale in Hobart. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. Nitesh Dubey is a digital content producer at the Times of India with over two years of experience in sports journalism.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Before joining TOI Online Sports Desk in March 2026, he was part of India News and Zee News. He has covered major sporting events, including ICC tournaments, IPL, Olympics and Tennis tournaments showcasing his passion for cricket and other sports.

‘Clean Chit To Gandhi Family’: 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims' Families Burn Sonia’s Memoir ‘Pay ₹7 Crore Or...’: Kejriwal, Daughter Get ‘Death Threat’ From ‘Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Member’ Owaisi, Chandra Shekhar Azad Form Alliance For 2027 UP Polls; SP, Congress React ‘Double Standards of…’: BJP Hits Out As Congress Names Bimol Akoijam To Key Manipur Poll Panels ‘Ball Is In Your Court’: Norwegian Journalist Helle Lyng’s Visa Appeal To Amit Shah ‘ANTI-BHARAT’: BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Ahead Of Bharat Summit In Hyderabad 'Chilling Reminder': Mamata Attacks BJP After TMC Leader Ujjal Biswas' Death Diwali 1984: Grenade Plot to Wipe Out The Entire Gandhi Parivar, Revealed In Sonia Gandhi's Memoir