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Shaun Marsh has missed out on earning a recall to the Australian side, with selectors naming an unchanged 12-man squad for the first day-night Test against Pakistan in Brisbane.
Marsh impressed during the first Test against South Africa, however he suffered a broken finger during the match which ruled him out for the remainder of the series against the Proteas.
However, while Marsh was touted by some for a return to the side, he was not considered for selection due to the injury.
“Shaun has yet to resume batting and will have a follow-up x-ray this week that will be reviewed by a specialist. This will determine when he can resume cricket training,” Australian team physio Alex Kountouris said.
Marsh’s unavailabiility will see Test rookies Matt Renshaw and Nic Maddinson keep their positions in the batting order, with Renshaw to open alongside David Warner and Maddinson to remain as the side’s number six batsman following Australia’s face-saving win against the Proteas at the Adelaide Oval.
“We were very pleased with how the team came together in Adelaide after some significant changes following the Tests in Perth and Hobart,” said interim national selector Trevor Hohns.
“This is a young group with a lot of promise and we believe all deserve their opportunity again in this upcoming Test.”
Fellow Adelaide debutant Peter Handscomb has also been retained following his first-innings half-century, despite failing with the bat during in his first knock during Victoria’s current Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.
There was no room in the squad for Adam Voges, despite making a successful comeback for Western Australia in the Shield from a concussion.
Voges was 51 not out at the end of Day 3 against Queensland and has a Test average of over 61, however his omission would suggest the Australian selectors have moved on from the veteran middle-order batsman.
Plenty of the squad will be backing up from the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, with captain Steve Smith, vice-captain Warner, bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and keeper Matthew Wade all part of the squad for the third Chappell-Hadlee trophy match at the MCG on Friday.
Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers, who is fresh off a match-winning five-wicket haul in the Shield against New South Wales, will fight it out for the third seamer’s spot, while Nathan Lyon has been retained as the side’s spinner following n impressive showing with the pink ball in Adelaide.
If Bird is retained for the opening match against Pakistan, it will be the first time since last year’s home series against New Zealand that Australia have gone into a Test with an unchanged XI.
The first Test against Pakistan will begin on Thursday, December 15, at the Gabba, with the first ball due to bowled at 2pm (AEDT).
Steve Smith (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Matthew Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.
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