Former wonder kids Ashton Agar and Matthew Renshaw have been welcomed back to the fold after years in the Test wilderness and are poised for tickets to India.
The pair have been added to a 14-player squad for the Sydney Test announced on Friday, with Agar in strong contention to wear the Baggy Green for the first time in five years.
There will be at least two changes to the starting XI for the final Test of the home summer after injuries to paceman Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Cameron Green.
Agar held off a strong challenge from uncapped Victoria off-spinner Todd Murphy to be Nathan Lyon’s spin partner, and could hold down No. 7 as part of a five-man attack should selectors decide to play a second front-line slow bowler on what is expected to be a dry SCG track.
Ashton Agar is in line to play his first Test since 2017, after being named in the squad for Sydney.Credit:AP
“Ashton offers a second spin option should the Sydney pitch be conducive to turn, as it has done in the past. He also brings a solid batting component,” selector Tony Dodemaide said.
Agar, a left-arm finger-spinner, was set to combine with Lyon for the series in Sri Lanka only to miss out with injury, but his inclusion ahead of Mitchell Swepson is a sign the Queensland leggie has fallen down the pecking order for tweakers.
Murphy is highly regarded but turns the ball the same way as Lyon. He is expected to feature in India.
The recalls to Agar and Renshaw are a testament to the pair’s resilience after both made head-turning debuts in the Baggy Green as youngsters only to fall out of favour.
Agar, who captured the hearts of Australia’s cricket lovers by making a stunning 98 on debut as a teenager in the 2013 Ashes, played the last of his four Tests against Bangladesh in 2017.
He has since remained in the national set-up as a white-ball specialist but has only recently returned to the Test radar of selectors. The selection panel has undergone considerable change over the past 18 months under the new chairmanship of George Bailey and the additions of Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald.
Renshaw showed his quality as a 20-year-old when blooded in late 2016, thumping 184 in just his fourth Test before impressing in the hard-fought series in India in 2017.
Dumped after the 2018 tour of the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan, the Queenslander lost his way and was dropped from the Bulls’ Shield side in February 2020.
Matt Renshaw reverse sweeps in Pune in Australia’s 2017 victory.Credit:AP
Reinvigorated by a move to the middle order, Renshaw found form and has since returned as an opener and forced his way into the Test squad by averaging 52 in the Sheffield Shield this season and strong performances for the PM’s XI against the West Indies.
He provides cover at six for Green should selectors decide to replace the all-rounder with a specialist batter.
“Matthew is included as a versatile batting option who is in good form, including an unbeaten century in the recent PM’s XI tour match against the West Indies,” Dodemaide said.
Selectors have already floated a potential debut for West Australian speedster Lance Morris, who has been earmarked as a shadow for Starc. It could leave senior quick Josh Hazlewood, recovered from a mild side strain, in a battle with Scott Boland for a pace berth.
“In terms of fast bowlers, it’s a blessing to have Josh (Hazlewood) returning while Lance (Morris) offers a genuine point of difference with his raw pace and skill,” Dodemaide said.
“This squad will cover all bases for when we get to Sydney and assess the conditions closer to the Test match.”
Despite having secured the series against South Africa, there will be much intrigue over Australia’s team for the New Year’s Test with a tour of India looming. Conditions in Sydney are expected to most resemble what the Australians will encounter on the subcontinent.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), David Warner.
