Promising Sheffield Shield batters Jack Clayton and Teague Wyllie will have a chance to impress the Australian selectors in a three-day tour game against the West Indies next week.
Peter Handscomb will lead a Cricket Australia XI at Adelaide’s Karen Rolton Oval from January 12 as the inexperienced West Indies side prepares for the two-Test series in Adelaide and Brisbane.
The left-handed Clayton, one of Queensland’s top Shield performers this season, and West Australian young gun Wyllie are the two hottest batting prospects named in a 12-man squad that also includes young Warriors opener Jayden Goodwin and Tasmanian duo Tim Ward and Jake Doran.
Clayton posted a century and three 50s in the first half of the red-ball season, while Wyllie burst onto the scene last summer as he became the youngest batter since Ricky Ponting to score a Shield century but has failed to reach the milestone in 16 first-class matches since.
National selection panel chair George Bailey said he wanted to mix domestic cricket’s most consistent performers with some recent Shield debutants in the squad for the tour match.
Victorian left-arm orthodox bowler Doug Warren, who has played only two first-class games, is the only spinner named in the side, while towering WA left-arm quick Liam Haskett and NSW seamer Jack Nisbet also only debuted this season.
Handscomb, who led a makeshift Victorian side against Pakistan in a tour game before the Boxing Day Test, was available to lead the CA XI because he does not have a BBL contract this season.
“CA XI matches provide an excellent opportunity for some of our up-and-coming players on the domestic scene to face international opposition as well as rewarding consistent performers,” Bailey said.
“The mix of the squad combines players who are well established at first-class level with those who are also just starting out at the level.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for recent Sheffield Shield debutants like Liam Haskett, Jack Nisbet and Doug Warren to play alongside and learn from established domestic cricketers and against a touring international side.”
CA XI squad vs. West Indies, Karen Rolton Oval, January 12-14
Peter Handscomb (VIC – St Kilda Cricket Club) (c)
Jack Clayton (QLD – University of Queensland Cricket Club)
Harry Conway (SA – Glenelg District Cricket Club)
Jake Doran (TAS – University of Tasmania Cricket Club)
Jayden Goodwin (WA – Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Liam Haskett (WA – Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club)
Bradley Hope (TAS – University of Tasmania Cricket Club)
Jack Nisbet (NSW – Mosman Cricket Club)
Liam Scott (SA – Glenelg District Cricket Club)
Tim Ward (TAS – University of Tasmania Cricket Club)
Doug Warren (VIC – Melbourne University Cricket Club)
Teague Wyllie (WA – Rockingham Mandurah Cricket Club)
Head coach: Adam Griffith
Assistant coach – Batting: Mark Cosgrove
Assistant coach – Bowling: Chadd Sayers
