Marcus Harris has been recalled to Australia’s men’s Test squad as the team led by Pat Cummins looks ahead to the chance to reach the world championship final that it failed to qualify for under Justin Langer and Tim Paine in 2021.
Australia’s national selectors unveiled both ODI and Test squads, to face England and the West Indies respectively, on Tuesday following the team’s early elimination from the Twenty20 World Cup.
Selection chair George Bailey has placed a high emphasis on stability since he replaced Trevor Hohns in 2021, and Harris’ return to the Test squad as a reserve batter – after Glenn Maxwell was a conditions-based inclusion in Sri Lanka – underlined that view.
Marcus Harris flicks one off his legs.Credit:Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
While other players such as Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb are considered chances to tour India early next year on vastly different pitches, Harris remains the selectors’ choice as the next best option in home climes, after making a key contribution on a difficult MCG pitch during the Ashes.
“After some larger squads for the subcontinent tours over the winter, we have returned to a very similar squad to that which performed strongly last summer in comprehensively winning the Ashes,” Bailey said.
“Marcus Harris retains his place after continuing to perform for Gloucestershire in the English County competition and a strong start to the Marsh Sheffield Shield season.”
Two years ago, Australia were at the top of the World Test Championship table but lost at home to India and then dropped out of a tour to South Africa, meaning the team fell behind India and New Zealand in the standings before the Black Caps won the trophy.
As expected, Travis Head returned to the 50-over squad in place of the retired Aaron Finch, and can be expected to slot in at the top of the order alongside David Warner.
“Our focus is to continue to build a squad with an eye to next year’s World Cup under Pat as the new ODI captain, so it’s an important series,” Bailey said.
“Travis Head returns in place of Aaron Finch having played well in Pakistan and Sri Lanka earlier in the year. He has demonstrated flexibility in the types of roles he can play in our ODI line-up.
“Our next opportunity in the ODI format will be in India next year which will allow us to experience similar conditions as for the World Cup in October.”
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will prepare for the Test matches by training for red-ball duty in between the ODIs against England, and will not play any Sheffield Shield cricket beforehand. Scott Boland, however, will play for Victoria ahead of the Tests as he is not in the ODI group.
Australia’s white-ball games against England are in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne (November 17, 19 and 22). The Tests against the West Indies take place in Perth from November 30 to December 4, and in Adelaide from December 8 to 12.
Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
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