Australia have named a 17-man squad for the upcoming Ashes sequence in England.
The announcement comes lower than two months out from the opening check which kicks off on June 16 from Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Watch each match of the 2023 IPL LIVE & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Debate had erupted over David Warner’s place within the Test squad and regardless of his latest struggles within the Test enviornment the left-handed opener was named.
But it was the collection of Mitch Marsh that caught cricket followers utterly off guard with the all-rounder a shock bolter for the sequence.
Marsh returns to the Australian Test squad for the primary time in additional than three years, with selectors backing in his expertise.
He final pulled on the whites through the 2019 Ashes sequence when he took a career-best 5-46 through the fifth Test at The Oval.
Australia’s 17-man Ashes squad: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis.
Along with the shock inclusion of Marsh, Marcus Harris and Josh Inglis have additionally returned to the squad.
Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Swepson and Matt Kuhnemann weren’t retained from the squad that toured India.
Australia will face off in opposition to India at The Oval within the ICC World Test Championship which takes place on June 7.
“The World Test Championship is the culmination of more than two years of consistent performance at Test level by the team and the individuals involved, leading into an Ashes series which is always highly anticipated,” Australian males’s staff Chair of Selectors George Bailey stated.
“The UK is a very different assignment from our most recent tour of India and some of the changes are based upon the conditions we are anticipating.
“Marcus, Josh and Mitch return to the squad and provide valuable depth and flexibility within their respective skillsets.
“We see value in revisiting the squad following the second Ashes Test given the short turnaround between the WTC final and the first Ashes Test, along with the length of the tour.”
Cricket followers have been divided on the squad announcement with many questioning why Cameron Bancroft and Michael Neser missed out on a spot within the squad.
The inclusion of Harris amplifies the stress on Warner to supply early within the sequence with selectors eyeing key adjustments if the primary two Tests go south for the Aussies.
Bancroft holds a greater report in firstclass cricket all through 2022/23, however is at present plying his commerce in English County Cricket, which means he’s a straightforward inclusion if required for the latter phases of the sequence.
The omission of Neser additionally didn’t sit properly with followers, however like Bancroft he’s already in England taking part in for Glamorgan and would seemingly be the first-up substitute if any damage hit the quick bowling shares.
CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote: “Think it’s a very strong squad. Like the inclusion of Marsh, first two Tests in India showed the balance was off without an all-rounder in the side. Handscomb + Neser unlucky but they’ll be close enough to be brought in if needed.”
Roar Sports’ Brett McKay wrote: “Interesting on a number of fronts. Only four seamers and a couple of allrounders in a 17-man squad, but equally interesting is the ‘squad will be re-assessed after the first three matches’ line. Feels like enough rope for a few players on notice.”
Source: www.news.com.au
