Picking a Combined Pakistan vs. Australia ODI Side

Pakistan take on Australia in a three-match ODI series starting in Sharjah on Tuesday. With the countdown to next year's World Cup well and truly on, both sides will be looking to put the finishing touches to their 50-over squads.

Despite Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Saeed Ajmal and now Mohammad Hafeez missing the series, there will still be plenty of class on show.

The selection is based on overall runs and wickets, current form and previous success in the United Arab Emirates. The entertainment factor also gets a look in, with flair players preferred over plodders.

Read on to see who has made the cut in our combined Pakistan vs. Australia ODI side.

Stats courtesy of ESPNCricinfo.com and Howstat.com.

1. Aaron Finch

Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/Associated Press

ODIs 28
Runs 1,022; average 37.85; strike rate 87.65
Wickets 2; average 22.50; economy rate 5.19

With 508 runs at an average of 50.80, it's been an excellent 2014 for Aaron Finch. The 27-year-old was the pick of the Australian batsmen in the recent tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe, with two fifties and a century.

The Victorian is yet to face Pakistan in an ODI. He smashed a quickfire 65 from 54 balls when the sides met in the World Twenty20 earlier this year though.

2. Ahmed Shehzad

Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press

ODIs 48
Runs 1,629; average 34.65; strike rate 71.51

Ahmed Shehzad is enjoying his best year in ODI cricket. The Pakistani opening batsman is averaging 42.87 in his eight visits to the middle in 2014.

Aggressive at the top of the order, Shehzad has been a consistent performer in an often inconsistent Pakistan batting line-up. The 22-year-old has been dismissed in single figures just once in his last 13 innings.

In that time, he has also scored two hundreds and three fifties.

3. Steve Smith

Will Russell/Getty Images

ODIs 38
Runs 477; average 20.73; strike rate 86.56
Wickets 26; average 31.73; economy rate 5.21

The stats alone don't make a compelling case for Steve Smith to make the Australian team, let alone our combined XI.

The 25-year-old has so much talent with both bat and ball though, it seems only a matter of time until he takes his Test form into the ODI arena.

A talented, free-scoring batsman, Smith is a fine player against spin. Perhaps even more useful in the United Arab Emirates will be his underrated leg-breaks.

4. George Bailey

Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/Associated Press

ODIs 44
Runs 1,772; average 49.22; strike rate 91.10

Australian captain George Bailey is the top ranked batsman in our combined XI. The 32-year-old currently sits in fourth place in the ICC ODI ratings.

The Tasmanian has lacked consistency in the ODI arena this year, passing 50 just twice in nine innings in 2014. Bailey showed his class with an impressive 66 from just 54 balls against South Africa in August though.

With Michael Clarke and Shane Watson missing the series, much will be resting on Bailey's shoulders.

5. Misbah-Ul-Haq

A.M. Ahad/Associated Press

ODIs 149
Runs 4,594; average 43.75; strike rate 73.82

Age shows no sign of diminishing the skills of Misbah-ul-Haq. The 40-year-old remains a reliable presence in a talented, if sometimes erratic, Pakistan middle-order.

Misbah has a decent record playing in the UAE, averaging 40.96. His performances against the Aussies are impressive too, with an average of 41.89 in 12 innings.

Steady and consistent, Misbah's form will likely be crucial if Pakistan are to take the series.

6. Glenn Maxwell

ODIs 29
Runs 736; average 32.00; strike rate 127.33
Wickets 15; average 48.80; economy rate 5.44

On his day, Glenn Maxwell is one of the most devastating batsmen in world cricket. Capable of destroying attacks, the Victorian has power to spare.

The pickings for the 25-year-old have been slim in recent times though. Maxwell has passed 20 just twice in his last 10 innings in all formats of the game.

His bowling could prove handy in the United Arab Emirates, especially after his three-wicket haul in the T20 on Sunday.

7. Umar Akmal

Scott Barbour/Getty Images

ODIs 97
Runs 2,646; average 37.26; strike rate 87.15

Brad Haddin may be the better wicketkeeper but Umar Akmal's destructive potential with the bat gets him the nod in our combined XI.

Umar was in good touch in the recent Champions League T20, posting a succession of decent scores.

The 24-year-old has also enjoyed batting against Australia, passing 50 in three of his last six innings against the Aussies.

8. Shahid Afridi

ODIs 381
Runs 7,652; average 23.40; strike rate 115.69
Wickets 378; average 34.20; economy rate 4.63

Are there any more dangerous hitters in world cricket coming into bat at number eight than Shahid Afridi? It's been over four years since Afridi last reached three-figures in an ODI but the 34-year-old is still capable of playing spectacular cameos. Witness his 25-ball 59 against Bangladesh in March.

His rapid leg-break's may not have the potency of yore, but Afridi remains a useful option for a skipper if conditions suit.

Controversial, inconsistent, brilliant, Afridi is still one of the most entertaining players to watch in the international game.

9. Mitchell Johnson

Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/Associated Press

ODIs 140
Runs 880; average 16.29; strike rate 95.03
Wickets 212; average 26.11; economy rate 4.84

After missing out on the Champions League T20 with a rib injury, Mitchell Johnson is, according to ABC News, set to return for the three-match ODI series with Pakistan.

If fit and firing, Johnson is the most deadly fast-bowler in the game. The slow pitches in the UAE won't suit his style, but the 32-year-old is canny enough to make the best of it.

A dangerous hitter down the order, he could get Australia over the line in a tight run chase.

10. Mitchell Starc

Francois Nel/Getty Images

ODIs 24
Runs 155; average 38.75; strike rate 89.59
Wickets 43; average 21.79; economy rate 5.15

It was a toss up between Mitchell Starc, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan as to who would join Junaid Khan and Mitchell Johnson in the attack.

Starc's impressive ODI record of a wicket every 25 balls gave him the edge over his left-arm rivals.

No mug with the bat, Starc's ability to score runs down the order cemented his place in the combined XI.

11. Junaid Khan

Hassan Ammar/Associated Press

ODIs 48
Runs 51; average 5.1; strike rate 51.00
Wickets 75; average 25.90; economy rate 5.14

The latest in a long line of impressive Pakistani left-arm seamers is Junaid Khan. The 24-year-old couldn't quite manage to keep Lancashire in the Division One of the County Championship but impressed during the English domestic season.

Capable of moving the ball late, Junaid will be a dangerous proposition if there is any reverse swing on offer in the UAE.