Veteran Aaron Finch and Peter Siddle have made a stunning return to the Test squad of Australia for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan while Glenn Maxwell was a surprise omission.
Meanwhile, Bulls batsman Marnus Labuschagne and fast bowlers Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett have all got their debut call. If Doggett makes his debut in the UAE, he will become just the third Indigenous player after Faith Thomas and Jason Gillespie to win a Baggy Green cap.
Queenslander Joe Burns and Victorian Peter Handscomb, who featured in the Johannesburg Test, didn’t find a place in the squad.
“Joe, Peter, and Glenn were players we discussed when selecting the batting group, but we had to take into account the conditions and competition we are set to face in the upcoming series,” selector Trevor Hohns said in a statement.
“All three remain on our radar for Test cricket. But we want them to perform for their states and continue to push their case ahead of what is going to be a big Australian summer,” he added.
Furthermore, the selectors left out Glenn Maxwell from the A tour to India. Moreover, he didn’t even get any guarantees that he will be in the series against Pakistan.
Finch, a mainstay of Australia’s limited-overs sides, will return to the Test squad for the first time. On the other hand, pace veteran Siddle returns last played a Test for Australia almost two years before.
With Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all suspended, and Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins sidelined due to injury, there were always going to be significant changes in Tim Paine’s first squad as full-time Test skipper.
The first of two Tests begins in Dubai on October 7 before the second Test in Abu Dhabi starts on October 16.
Australia Test squad for the Pakitan Series:
Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matt Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc.