Mitchell Owen Set to Make ODI Debut, Vows to Stick With His Aggressive T20 Approach

Rising allrounder Mitchell Owen is poised to make his ODI debut for Australia later this month in the upcoming home series against South Africa, and the 23-year-old insists his attacking mindset won’t change—regardless of the format.

Following a breakout T20I debut series in the Caribbean, where he struck 50, 36*, 2 and 37 at a blistering strike rate of 192.30 batting at No. 6, Owen was named in Australia’s squad for the three-match ODI series beginning August 19 in Cairns and Mackay. His performances, combined with his medium-pace bowling, earned him a spot as Australia begins a new era post the retirements of Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis.

"Not much really changes in any form"

Speaking in Hobart, Owen made it clear that format won’t dictate his approach.

“If I am opening the batting or if I'm batting down the order, not much will change,” Owen said. “I just try and hit the ball. If I start thinking about defending, I go into my shell and it just doesn’t work.”

Despite opening the batting for Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL, Owen is expected to fill a middle-order finishing role in the national ODI setup, especially with Australia seeking to replace the finishing power vacated by Maxwell and Stoinis.

From Domestic Opener to Middle-Order Matchwinner

Owen has played just 17 List A matches for Tasmania, initially struggling in the lower order before being promoted to opener. His breakthrough came last season when he hammered 48 off 19 and 149 off 69 in two match-winning chases, showcasing his potential as a high-impact player in 50-over cricket.

Although he's unlikely to reprise his opening role for Australia immediately, Owen’s ability to adapt across roles has made him a valuable addition to the national white-ball setup.

Australia’s ODI Reshuffle in Full Swing

With Mitchell Marsh returning as acting ODI captain and Cameron Green also fit again, Australia’s top order will undergo reshuffling. Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey are expected to anchor the middle order, leaving a finishing role open for Owen to make his mark.

In the T20I side, Travis Head and Matthew Short return, likely displacing some of the batters who featured in the West Indies series. Glenn Maxwell, who opened in four of five T20Is in the Caribbean, is expected to move back to the middle order to accommodate the returning top-order pair.

The competition for middle-order spots is intensifying with the T20 World Cup approaching in 2026. While Tim David impressed with a century at No. 5 and Green was Player of the Series batting at No. 4, Owen appears locked in as a preferred option at No. 6. Stoinis, currently playing in The Hundred, remains in contention and could return for the October T20I series against New Zealand and India.

Nonstop Cricket, Valuable Experience

Owen’s whirlwind year has included stints in the PSL, IPL, MLC, and now international cricket, playing 26 T20s across five countries since April. Reflecting on the non-stop schedule, he said the experience taught him how to prepare quickly and adapt to different conditions.

“You’ve got to be ready to play every couple of days,” Owen explained. “There’s no long training blocks. You just learn to find your own process. Playing in places like Pakistan and India really helped me deal with varying conditions, especially in the MLC and Caribbean.”

Owen will link up with the Australian squad in Darwin on Wednesday ahead of the T20Is against South Africa, starting next week.

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