Melbourne: Western Australia all-rounder Cameron Green and Victoria batsman Will Pucovski have been rewarded for strong domestic performances with a place in the 17-man squad that will take on India in four Tests.
Other uncapped Test players in the Tim Paine-led outfit are seam bowler Sean Abbott, leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and all-rounder Michael Neser, although they’ve all represented Australia in other formats.
Each of the five players has been in exceptional form in the Sheffield Shield and “demanded selection”, according to chief national selector Trevor Hohns.
Pucovski, who was promoted to open the batting for Victoria this season, performed superbly in his two Shield matches, scoring a whopping 495 runs from just three innings at 247.5, with double centuries in consecutive games.
2⃣5⃣5⃣*
2⃣0⃣2⃣Back-to-back double centuries in two #SheffieldShield matches for Will Pucovski ?
Will he don the Australia Test whites in the series against India? pic.twitter.com/mm81ZjjGD1
— ICC (@ICC) November 9, 2020
Green scored 363 runs from four matches at 72.60, including a big knock of 197 alongside two fifties. He didn’t do too much bowling due to injury issues, but picked up two wickets from his 24 overs.
“Two of the many standout players (this season) 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,” Hohns said in a statement.
“Cameron 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 allrounder of substance over time. His batting alone has demanded his place in the squad.”
n the bowling department, there has been a lot of excitement over the development of Swepson, who picked up three five-fors in as many matches to lead the wicket-taking charts with 23 scalps at 21.17. Meanwhile, Abbott took 14 wickets from his three matches and also made a crucial century.
Australia have named a 17-man squad for the Test series against India!
The uncapped players in the squad include talented all-rounder Cameron Green and batsman Will Pucovski ? pic.twitter.com/COVyGkGXNK
— ICC (@ICC) November 12, 2020
“Mitch Swepson is another who has excelled and is in fine form for Queensland. He gives the side a strong second spin option to Nathan Lyon and we feel he is ready and deserving of the opportunity,” Hohns said.
“Sean Abbott has also been outstanding at the start of the summer and comes into his first Test squad as a very strong fast bowling option. Add that to his recent batting form over the last 12 months he presents a very complete package in the squad.”
Neser, who has been part of the Test squad previously as well, performed well with both bat and ball in his three Shield matches. He made 145 runs, including a hundred, to go with his bag of 10 wickets at 24.40.
With all-rounders like Neser and Green in the squad, Mitchell Marsh didn’t find a place in the side although he has been named in a strong ‘A’ squad that will take on India in warm-up matches.
Australia squad: David Warner, Will Pucovski, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (captain), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Michael Neser, Mitchell Swepson, Sean Abbott.
Source : ICC
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