Ashes 2019 is in an interesting position after the third Test. Before the penultimate Test (fourth Test) of this series, Australia will play a three-day tour match against Derbyshire from 29th to 31st August at Derby. Just one day ahead of this tour game, the Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the 11-member squad for this match.
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On Wednesday (28th August), the CA has announced this tour game squad where the Test captain Tim Paine has got a rest. Usman Khawaja will lead this side while Alex Carey will play the wicketkeeping role. Carey hugely impressed in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. Recently, he was also in good touch for Sussex.
Apart from Carey, Matthew Wade has also earned the opportunity in the upcoming tour match.
Steven Smith returns
Steven Smith has returned to the squad. The in-form batsman missed out the last Test at Leeds due to the concussion. On day four of the second Test of this series at Lord’s, Smith suffered a blow on his neck when he was facing English pacer Jofra Archer. Though Smith came to bat at later on the same day, he missed out the final day due to the concussion. Marnus Labuschagne replaced him for the remainder of that game and became the first concussion substitute in international cricket.
This time Smith and Labuschagne will play together in the tour game. Since his return to the Test side as a replacement, Labuschagne has hugely impressed with his batting.
The all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is also in this squad. Apart from Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc, uncapped Test player Michael Naser is also in the pace-bowling squad for this tour game.
Australia and England both have won once each in the ongoing Ashes 2019
After the third Test of the Ashes 2019, the series is currently standing on 1-1. Australia won the first Test by 251 runs at Edgbaston (Birmingham). The second Test at Lord’s (London) had a draw result while England won the thrilling third Test by one wicket at Headingley (Leeds).
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The fourth Test of this series will begin on 4th September at Old Trafford (Manchester). The Oval (London) will organise the fifth and final Test of this series from 12th September.
Australia full squad for the tour game against Derbyshire: Usman Khawaja (c), Cameron Bancroft, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade