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The Australian squad to tour New Zealand for a two-Test series has been announced, with oft-overlooked bowlers Chadd Sayers and Jackson Bird the two biggest bolters.
The two pacemen come in at the expense of the uncapped Scott Boland, who has struggled in the one-day arena, and left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O’Keefe, who was brought into the side to play on the spin-friendly SCG pitch. O’Keefe is expected to make a return to the squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.
Peter Siddle has also been named in the squad, having overcome an injury sustained at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, while selectors are hopeful James Pattinson will be available after he missed the Melbourne Renegades’ BBL match on Monday.
“We are delighted to welcome Chadd Sayers into the squad for the first time and his inclusion is thoroughly deserved,” National selector Rod Marsh said.
“Both he and Jackson Bird can swing the ball and operate at a lively pace and we believe both will be well suited to the conditions we are likely to encounter in New Zealand.
“We are hopeful James Pattinson will be able to overcome the shin soreness he has been suffering with and continue the fine form he showed in this summer’s Tests when he bowled at good pace, while Peter Siddle is on the verge of playing again following the ankle injury he suffered during the West Indies series.”
Sayers has been a standout bowler on the domestic scene for the last few years, but with coach Darren Lehmann’s preference for bowlers who operate at speed, the South Australian has struggled to get a look-in.
However Lehmann has been willing to concede pure pace may not be the best approach on New Zealand’s green wickets.
In terms of the Aussies’ batting, barring injury, the top seven is expected to be largely the same as throughout the summer, with Shaun Marsh in the squad keeping the pressure on.
“The batting line-up for the tour picks itself with all of the top order having produced excellent results during this summer’s Commonwealth Bank Test series against New Zealand and the West Indies,” Rod Marsh said.
“We know that New Zealand is going to come hard at us, that their players will want some form of pay-back for the Test series loss suffered in the series we played in this country late last year and that they will want to give captain Brendon McCullum a send-off into international retirement with a series win against their near-neighbours.
“The fact that we can move back to the top of the ICC Rankings if we win the series is an added incentive for us but the players will be hungry to do well and we are anticipating a tough but also, hopefully, a successful series.”
Australia Test squad
David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Shaun Marsh, Chadd Sayers
The two Tests will be played in Wellington from 12-16 February, and Christchurch from 20-24 February.
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