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Handscomb to make ODI debut

Victorian batsman will become Australia's 219th ODI player at the WACA Ground

Peter Handscomb will make his one-day international debut in Perth on Thursday as Australia look to re-gain the lead in the VB ODI series against Pakistan.

Handscomb is one of two changes to the side that lost in Melbourne on Sunday, coming in for the injured Mitchell Marsh.

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Paceman Billy Stanlake, who made his debut in the opening game of the series last Friday, returns in place of Mitchell Starc, who has been rested.

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Handscomb will bat at number four at the WACA Ground, with coach Darren Lehmann confirming that Queensland's Chris Lynn is out for the series due to a neck injury.

"He's done really well so this is a good reward for a good summer," Lehmann said of Handscomb.

"Obviously we want four quality batters at the top so he'll get his chance there.

"It's bad luck for Chris Lynn ... the number four spot is there and Peter has done a really good job in the Test matches so he gets a crack at it."

Handscomb averages 31 in domestic one-day cricket and, like Lynn, has never posted a century in the 50-over game. But Lehmann had no doubt the Victorian could translate his good Test form into ODI cricket.

"He played a one-day style innings for us in the Sydney Test, so he's got all the shots and he's quite innovative," he said.

"Or if we lose early wickets he can consolidate."

Peter Handscomb makes even more runs

Handscomb is currently averaging just under 100 in Tests after an impressive start to his international career this summer, including two centuries and two fifties from four matches.

He will become Australia's 219th ODI player and the third debutant this series after Stanlake and Chris Lynn played their first games in Brisbane last Friday.

Lehmann said Stanlake, who bowled just three overs in his debut at the Gabba due to illness, should be able to use his height to good effect on a bouncy WACA surface.

"He's tall and he's got a lot of bounce so we think he can be quite effective here," the coach said of the towering quick.

The five-match series is locked at 1-1 after Pakistan recorded a drought-breaking victory at the MCG on Sunday.

Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Billy Stanlake