Australia’s Test selectors are desperately hoping a few raw recruits will become national heroes as the country’s cricketing rebuilding process began in earnest on Tuesday.
A quartet of uncapped players headlined a 15-man squad for next month’s three Test tour of Sri Lanka and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch admits the move is aimed at seeing whether some rough diamonds can shine on the biggest stage.
Pace duo Trent Copeland and James Pattinson were chosen ahead of more experienced options such as Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon has risen from groundsman to potential Test player within 12 months with just four first-class appearances to his name.
WA batsman Shaun Marsh is the other novice named in a squad that also features Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer, who both have just one Test to their names.
The tour will also be Michael Clarke’s first as Australian captain, adding another challenge to the inexperienced squad.
South Australian Lyon’s selection epitomised the ambitious hopes Hilditch is investing in potential over experience.
“I think he nearly needed a heart starter when I told him,” Hilditch told reporters in Adelaide.
“In an ideal world you would have wanted him to play more (Sheffield) Shield cricket, there is no question about that.
“But that is not where we’re at at the moment, we’re looking for our best spinners.”
Beer, who himself has only made 13 first class appearances since joining Western Australia from Victoria last summer, was almost as much of an unknown as Lyon when picked.
Now both could find themselves operating in a two-man spin attack against one of the world’s most experienced batting orders.
“It’s interesting, I was just saying to a couple of the boys that over a year ago I went to spin camp and I’d just signed with the WACA and Nathan was there and knew South Australia had a bit of interest in him,” Beer said.
“Now just probably over 12 months later we’re both on a Test tour.
“Pretty amazing story that.”
Lyon’s own reaction reflected that of all four uncapped players when informed of their selection.
“I looked down at the phone and saw Andrew’s name pop up and thought `geez, what is going on here’,” Lyon said.
“I’m stoked to get the news … it is unreal.”
Hilditch however rejected the suggestion the shock selections were a desperate reaction to Australia’s crushing Ashes defeat to England last summer.
“It’s not something we are just picking young players because that is the way we want to go,” he said.
“We’re picking the best team for Australia.
“But we need some experienced players, which we think we have got, and we also need to find a couple of new champions in the next couple of years.”
Copeland and Pattinson were selected to allow pace spearheads Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle to take a more aggressive approach to their bowling, according to Hilditch.
“It looks like they’re going to blood a few young players,” said 21-year-old Pattinson, who has only played eight first class games for Victoria.
“And they’re young players that have done great in domestic cricket over the past two years and they deserve the chance they get.”
The Test series starts in Galle on August 31, with following Tests in Kandy from September 8 and Colombo from September 16.
Test squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson (vice-capt), Michael Beer, Trent Copeland, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle.
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