Failing a major fallout in South Africa post the ‘Sandpaper Gate’ that unearthed on the third day of the third Test, Australia have been forced to make changes in their squad.
Although the news has not been made official, players like Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns and veteran George Bailey have been kept on the standby list.
The three players will fly to South Africa to join the squad for the fourth Test match.
Starting from Renshaw, he was ignored for Ashes 2017/18 after his poor form.
The youngster was replaced by Cameron Bancroft, who again got an edge over him for the South Africa Test series.
Incidentally, it was Bancroft who was handed the job to tamper the ball and now, he is a line to be flown back to Australia.
Though he was let off by ICC with a fine of 75% of his match fee, Cricket Australia is likely to take stern action against him.
Coming to Joe Burns, he is expected to replace David Warner at the top.
It is confirmed that Warner will fly back to Australia as soon as the verdict is announced.
He played his last Test against South Africa in Hobart in 2016 before the Australian selectors made a total of six changed for the third and the final Test match.
He was one of the players to be axed from the team.
The last player on the standby list is veteran George Bailey.
He last wore baggy green during the Ashes series 2013/14 where Australia whitewashed England.
Incidentally, he was dropped from the Test squad for the tour of South Africa following his dry run in the Ashes series then.
Now, he is a line to make a comeback in the side when Australian team is playing against South Africa in South Africa.
Since Steven Smith is banned for the fourth Test, Bailey might walk in the playing XI to fill captain’s boots.
Peter Handscomb, who could have walked in the playing XI, might be barred from playing the Test match as his involvement in the saga was seen on the giant screen.
None of the fast bowlers is under scrutiny as the reports have suggested that they had no role to play in it.
Apart from these three, many of more players could be dropped from the playing XI for the final Test match.
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