Australia, on Thursday, announced their Test squad for the upcoming four-match Border-Gavaskar Test Series against India at home. The hosts have named a strong 17-man squad consisting of highly-rated youngsters Will Pucovski and Cameron Green.
The other uncapped players in the squad are Sean Abbott, Mitchell Swepson and Michael Neser. Cameron Green and Sean Abbott have earned their maiden Test call-up after excellent performances with bat and ball in the ongoing Marsh Sheffield Shield. The other uncapped players have also been rewarded for excellent performances in the domestic circuit.
Australia Test Squad Include Will Pucovski And Cameron Green Based On Domestic Performances In Sheffield Shield
Pacer Sean Abbott has featured in 1 ODI and 4 T20Is while leg break spinner Mitchell Swepson has played a solitary T20I. Pacer all-rounder Michael Neser has played 2 ODIs while 21-year-old Cameron Green and 22-year-old batsman Will Pucovski are yet to play any format. All are yet to feature in Tests.
“What we saw in the opening rounds of the Marsh Sheffield Shield were a number of players performing exceptionally well,” Australia’s National selector Trevor Hohns said.
“Two of those many standout players were of course Cameron Green and Will Pucovski. Their undeniable form demanded selection and we are very pleased to have these young men in the squad for what will be a tremendous Test Series against an extremely formidable opponent,” he added.
22-year old Will Pucovski has made 495 runs at an average of 247.5 in the opening rounds of the Sheffield Shield competition this year in 2 matches leading the batting charts and will be up against Joe Burns for the opener’s slot. Joe Burns has so far registered scores of 7, 29, 0, 10, 11 in the Sheffield Shield games. Mitchell Swepson leads bowling chart with 23 wickets in 3 matches while Sean Abbott has 14 wickets.
Australia’s Will Pucovski And Cameron Green Are Exceptional Talents: Trevor Hohns
Both Joe Burns and Will Pucovski have been named in Australia A squad for the two practice matches against India, which could determine David Warner’s opening partner.
“Will’s record breaking start to the summer has been exceptional. His ability to show such patience is something which stands him in good stead for Test cricket and he is in rare company with two double centuries to start the summer. We very much look forward to Will developing further on the international stage,” Hohns said.
Cameron Green, meanwhile, has been performing consistently with the bat in the ongoing Australian summer domestic circuit and scored a career-best 197 against New South Wales. Last month, he was named in the white-ball squad against India. He has scored 363 runs averaging 72.6 in 4 matches.
“Cameron (Green) has already won selection in the white ball squad and continues that in joining the Test squad. He is a wonderful young talent who has great potential to become an all-rounder of substance over time. His batting alone has demanded his place in the squad,” Hohns said.
Cricket Australia (CA) also named a 19-player Australia A squad that features as many as nine Test players from the main squad including captain Tim Paine. The four-match Test series between India and Australia starts on December 17 with the day-night Test in Adelaide.
Australia Test squad:
Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Tim Paine (c), James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Australia A squad:
Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Joe Burns, Jackson Bird, Alex Carey (wk), Harry Conway, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Nic Maddinson, Mitchell Marsh (subject to fitness), Michael Neser, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Mark Steketee, Will Sutherland, Mitchell Swepson