Australia announce 13-member squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Australia have made several changes to their squad for the upcoming Test series.
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After making plentiful changes to their ODI squad for the imminent ODI series against India, the Australian selectors put on display a mini-replica of the same while selecting the 13-member squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
The biggest casualties of the same have been opening batsman Aaron Finch, middle-order batsman Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.
Respective batting averages of 16.16, 26.14, 21 and 9.50 have led to the quartet being axed from the Test team. With the four batsman having a mere couple of half-centuries between them further spoilt their case.
While uncapped Victorian batsman Will Pucovski has received a maiden call-up, Queensland pair of Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns have made comebacks into the Test squad. Having named only three inclusions, Australia have reduced the 14-member squad to a 13-member squad now.
BREAKING: Australia’s Test squad for #AUSvSL series:
Tim Paine (c/wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 9, 2019
Marsh not done yet, says Trevor Hohns. More from @samuelfez HERE: https://t.co/QwIwW43Zz9 #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/l35tNIPxYv
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 9, 2019
The 20-year old Pucovski, who took an ‘indefinite break’ from cricket earlier this summer, has been on the basis on potential for he scored 243 against Western Australia before taking the break.
“Will Pucovski is an exciting young player who is making his mark in the Sheffield Shield. He is another player with a track record of making centuries. We look forward to him joining the squad and congratulate him on his first national call-up,” national selector Trevor Hohns was quoted as saying.
The 29-year old Burns is currently the fifth-highest run-scorer in the JLT Sheffield Shield. In six matches, he has scored 472 runs at an average of 47.20 and a strike rate of 60.51.
“Joe Burns has had strong performances in first-class cricket this season, and we believe he can contribute strongly if given the chance in the series,” Horns added.
Good to see Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns back in the squad. Well done.
— Randy Walker (@RandyWalker77) January 9, 2019
Yeh renshaw averaging 19 from shield this season and scoring 18 runs across both BBL games so far is impressive
— WoodyAU (@xWoodyCS) January 9, 2019
Ridiculous.
Renshaw being picked is baffling… It’s just a stab he can rediscover his 2016 form.
Siddle is beyond a joke. He’s going backwards.
Where is @Gmaxi_32 ? What does the bloke have to do? Even Stoinis at the very least.Should play Shield alongside with Test cricket.
— Brendan Goss (@gossy77) January 9, 2019
In the five matches which Renshaw played in the Sheffield Shield, he has scored 199 runs at an average of 19.90 and a strike rate of 44.51. He has been named despite poor returns for being a ‘long term prospect’.
“Matt Renshaw is a player with the ability to make big scores, and at 22 years old has 10 first-class centuries. He also performed extremely well in England during the County season. We see him as a long-term prospect as a Test player and have confidence in his ability to bounce back following a string of low scores early in the Shield season,” Horns further added.
