Uncapped leg-spinner Mitch Swepson included in 16 member squad
Internet Desk: Cricket Australia has announced a 16-man Test squad for their forthcoming tour of India, with uncapped leg-spinner Mitch Swepson earning a maiden international call-up. The Marsh brothers along with Ashton Agar and Glenn Maxwell made a comeback into the test squad. The squad led by Steve Smith includes 6 batsman, 4 spinners, 3 fast bowlers, 2 all-rounders and one specialist wicket-keeper in Mathew Wade.
23-year-old Queenslander Swepson has been named alongside Ashton Agar and Glenn Maxwell to give Australia five different spin options, with incumbent tweakers Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’Keefe also selected.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh has also earned a recall, meaning there was no room in the squad for incumbent No.6 Hilton Cartwright, who made his Test debut at the SCG earlier this month.
Batsman Shaun Marsh returns to the national set-up after breaking a finger during the first Commonwealth Bank Test against South Africa in November and opting to undergo surgery. He’s since made returned via the KFC Big Bash League with the Perth Scorchers.
Matthew Wade has been named as the sole specialist wicketkeeper in the squad, with no recall for the man he replaced Peter Nevill in the wake of Australia’s innings defeat to South Africa in Hobart in November.
Tall seamer Jackson Bird, who was replaced by O’Keefe for Australia’s most recent Test at the SCG against Pakistan, has been named as just one of three frontline quicks alongside pace spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Speaking on the make-up of the squad, Interim National Selector Trevor Hohns said the panel chose an additional spin bowler to allow as many options as possible.
“We don’t know what pitch conditions we will come up against in each of the venues but wanted to have flexibility and options available to us.
“We know India is an incredibly tough place to tour and have success in, with most International teams struggling to adapt to the conditions, but we have chosen a squad which we believe will work really hard in its endeavours to perform well and give a good account of itself in the sub-continent.
“We expect all of the young players chosen to benefit immensely from the experience.”
The squad features four spinners including Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and West Australia’s left arm orthodox spinner Ashton Agar.
“Mitchell is an exciting young leg-spinner that has come through the pathway system. We feel he has a lot of potential and want to see him take his opportunity in conditions that should suit him should he get a chance.
“Ashton is a good left-arm orthodox spinner who can be very exciting with the bat and also fields extremely well. He provides us with a great all-round package.”
Victoria’s Glenn Maxwell and West Australia’s Mitchell Marsh make up the all-rounders in the side.
“We know Glenn plays very well against spin and has a lot of experience playing in India. We think his ability with the bat, coupled with his handy off-spin will complement the bowling unit if required.
“We consider Mitchell as a bowling all-rounder and should we decide to play a two pace and two spin bowling attack it is important to have that third seam bowling option if conditions suit.”
West Australia’s Shaun Marsh returns to the side following injury earlier in the summer.
“Shaun is proven in sub-continent conditions and is coming off a hundred in his last Test match in Sri Lanka. He is a very versatile batsman who can slot in at the top or the middle of the order,” said Hohns.
With the inclusion of only three fast-bowlers in the squad the NSP will reassess the fast bowling stocks after the second Test in Bangalore.
Selected members of the squad will depart on January 29 for Dubai to train, before the remainder of the squad follow after the Chappell-Hadlee Series in New Zealand.