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Australian Test squad confirmed: Bolter in the bowlers, Burns misses out

28th October, 2016
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Joe Mennie's injury suggests we need to reassess bat sizes. (Image: Naparazzi CC BY-SA 2.0)
28th October, 2016
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The Australian cricket selectors have announced a major shock in naming the squad for the first two Tests against South Africa, with Joe Mennie included as one of five bowlers.

Mennie was named alongside fellow quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle, as well as spinner Nathan Lyon, with one of Mennie and Siddle expected to claim the third seamer’s spot when the Test starts next Thursday.

“Joe bowls a great length at a lively pace and his form in first-class cricket has been terrific in the last 12 months,” national selector Rod Marsh said.

“He also impressed us during the recent Australia A Series in Queensland.

“He was the highest wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield last season and is very handy with the bat.”

The Redbacks paceman beat out competition from Tasmanian quick Jackson Bird for the final fast bowler’s position. Bird had been touted as the man most likely to battle it out with Siddle for the final place in the Australian XI, and his last appearance for the national team had seen him decimate New Zealand with seven wickets in the match.

However, in a bizarre admission, Marsh said Bird’s lesser talent with the bat was what cost him a spot in the side.

“[It was] very close,” Marsh said. “I talked to Jackson again this morning and I said to Jackson the thing that probably cost him a place was his batting.

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“We’ve got to get runs at the bottom of the order as well, particularly against a very good [South African] attack.”

Jackson Bird celebrates

In the other big selection news, Shaun Marsh was selected as David Warner’s opening partner ahead of Joe Burns, despite Burns making an impressive hundred against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield. Usman Khawaja has also been selected in the side and will bat at number three.

“Both Shaun and Joe played very well in the Sheffield Shield round but Shaun is coming off back-to-back hundreds in Test matches and has performed very well in Perth and Hobart so we have opted to go with him,” Rod Marsh said.

Shaun’s brother, Mitchell, has retained his place in the squad, however Rod Marsh admitted the all-rounder is under pressure to keep his place in the side.

“Yes [he’s under pressure],” Marsh said. “He needs to bowl well and bat well, Mitch, he really does. Unfortunately, in the Shield game, he did neither.”

“He’s hitting the ball as well as anyone; when he’s played for Australia he’s hit the ball beautifully but he just hasn’t got a big score.

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“He needs to get a Test hundred, Mitch, I reckon.”

Mennie was mightily impressive during the 2015-16 Sheffield Shield season, picking up a league-high 51 wickets at an average of 21 for South Australia.

His form was rewarded during the recent ill-fated ODI tour of South Africa, a series the NSW-born pace bowler would likely rather forget. Mennie recorded the worst figures for an Australian bowler on debut when he was carted around the Wanderers ground by Rilee Rossouw, Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy, finishing with 0-82 from his ten overs.

However, as a bowler who relies on an extra bounce and accurate line and length rather that out-and-out pace and variation, Mennie seems better suited to the longest format of the game.

He boasts a current first-class record of 155 wickets at an average of 26.68 from 41 matches.

Australian squad for first two Tests vs South Africa

David Warner (vice-captain)
Shaun Marsh
Usman Khawaja
Steve Smith (captain)
Adam Voges
Mitchell Marsh
Peter Nevill
Mitchell Starc
Peter Siddle
Josh Hazlewood
Nathan Lyon
Joe Mennie

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