Australia: In what proves to be a significant development, WTC defending champions Australia have unveiled their final 13-member squad for the first test-match in Perth verus India. The Pat Cummins led team have sorted out the opening combination conundrum which was created following the retirement of David Warner.
Young sensation Nathan McSweeney will be seen giving company to veteran batter Usman Khawaja at the top of the order in the opening fixture of the highly anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024. After performing on an excellent note in Domestic Cricket, McSweeney has prevailed over Marcus Harris for the second opener spot in the Playing 11.
32-year-old Harris, who last participated in a Test-match two years ago in January of 2022, is not even a part of the extended Australian squad as the selectors gave wicket-keeper batsman Josh Inglis the preference as the backup batsman. Harris was the top run getter for Australia – A in their recently concluded unofficial test-match versus India – A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but he also got dismissed for a duck in the second inning.
Nathan McSweeney is set to become the first Aussie player in the span of 47 years to make his Test-debut as an opening batter despite not playing in that position in the domestic first class tournament of the country – the Sheffield Shield.The right handed batter was the top run-scorer for Australia – A in the first match versus India – A at the Great Barrier Reef Arena Stadium of Mackay, scoring 39 and 88 runs across two innings in the contest by batting at the number four spot.
But in the second match, the Australian selectors experimented with McSweeney as the opener as they made him swap places with Sam Konstas. But, the 25-year-old was unable to convert his innings into a big score, scoring 14 and 25 runs respectively across two innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,giving Marcus Harris a golden opportunity to seal the vacant opening spot.
However, George Bailey, Australia’s chairman of selectors, was convinced with the batting prowess of Nathan as he included him in the 13-member squad of the Aussies for the Perth Test-Match.
“In addition to his impressive recent domestic cricket record, he (Nathan McSweeney) has demonstrated tremendous qualities Which we think will help him excel in Test-cricket,” George Bailey said
“His excellent performances with the bat for Australia – A & South Australia confirms our belief that he is ready to be given a chance to represent Australia in the longest format of the game.
“Similarly, Inglis has played well in Domestic Cricket in Sheffield Shield and his displays with the bat prove that he deserves to be a part of the Test-Team. Scott Boland on the other hand has delivered with the ba whenever he has been given the chance in Test-cricket and he is still regarded as a vital member of the team,” Bailey added.
Following the back-injury of Batting all-rounder Cameron Green which forced him to miss the entire Australian Cricket Test-Summer, selectors confirmed that veteran batter Steven Smith will be shifting back to the number four spot from the top of the order.
The duo of Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft were initially considered the favourites for the second opening batter’s spot and they performed well in the Sheffield Shield as well. But, the latter couldn’t merit his selection decision as he suffered from poor form at the worst-possible time.
31-year-old Bancroft, who last featured in a Test-Match in the 2019 Ashes Series, had been in dominant form for Western Australia in the last two seasons of First-class Cricket, but he only managed to get a top score of just 16 runs in his last eight-innings.
Australia’s 13-member squad for the Perth Test-Match versus India: Usman Khawaja, Josh Inglis, Nathan McSweeney, Travis Head, Alex Carey (WK), Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins (Captain).
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For more information, visit the official website of Cricket Australia