SYDNEY – Australia ushered in a fresh era Tuesday by including fiveuncapped players in their first Test squad since the scandal-plagued tourof South Africa this year.
With the disgraced Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft allsuspended for their role in the ball-tampering row that sparked one of theworst crises cricket has faced, selectors had slim pickings.
Also missing for their two-Test series against Pakistan in the United ArabEmirates next month are injured fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and PatCummins, leaving Australia with one of its weakest Test squads in years.
Among the five debutants are Queensland trio Michael Neser, Brendan Doggettand Marnus Labuschagne, South Australia’s Travis Head and Victoria’s AaronFinch.
“There has been significant change to our Test squad, due to theunavailability of a number of key players,” said national selector TrevorHohns.
“That said, we firmly believe the squad selected is up to the challengeahead, and is capable of playing a brand of cricket that can perform wellin this series against Pakistan.
“It’s a blend of experienced players who have a significant amount ofeither Test or first-class cricket, and a number of younger players who weare confident are ready for the Test arena.”
Three top-order spots were left vacant by Smith, Warner and Bancroft’sabsence and opener Matt Renshaw, who was dumped ahead of the Ashes latelast year but returned for the final Test in South Africa, fills one ofthem after a standout Sheffield Shield season.
The aggressive Finch, better known for his exploits in the shorter form ofthe game, was also included and could open the batting with Renshaw.
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In a relief for selectors, the experienced Shaun Marsh was declared fitafter recovering from a shoulder injury that forced him to return home inJuly from a county cricket stint with Glamorgan.
A slimmed-down Usman Khawaja, all-rounder Mitch Marsh and either Head orLabuschagne should fill out the middle-order planks.
Peter Handscomb missed out after poor form on current Australia A tour ofIndia, and there was no room for batting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, despitealso offering a handy off-spin option.
Veteran Mitchell Starc will spearhead the attack and there was a recall forworkhorse quick Peter Siddle on the back of his red-hot form in Englandthis year with Essex, with either Neser or Doggett potential new-ballpartners for Starc.
Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland and left-armer Ashton Agar occupy the spin slotswith captain Tim Paine behind the wicket.
The first Test is in Dubai from October 7 with the second in Abu Dhabi fromOctober 16.Australia squad for series against Pakistan
Tim Paine (captain), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, TravisHead, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, MitchellMarsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, MitchellStarc
