In a move surprising absolutely nobody, Steve Smith has confirmed Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers will be the two players left out of the Australian team for the first Test.
The squad, which was announced last Friday, had plenty of shocks in it, with Cameron Bancroft, Shaun Marsh and Tim Paine included in the side.
Bancroft was coming off a double hundred in the Sheffield Shield and will open the batting alongside David Warner, while the selections of Paine and Marsh were far more controversial, neither in form demanding selection.
Paine wasn’t even wicketkeeping for Tasmania, sitting behind former Test keeper Matthew Wade in the pecking order.
The confirmation of Australia’s XI for the first Test against England also confirms David Warner will play. The aggressive opening batsman and vice-captain picked up a neck injury during training on Tuesday, but is likely to play tomorrow after batting in the nets today.
However, Smith did admit someone will likely be placed on standby in case Warner isn’t able to line up for the Ashes opener. It’s since been revealed Glenn Maxwell has been brought into the squad.
Glenn Maxwell brought into the Australian squad as injury cover for David Warner. Very unlikely he'll play. But still: all is well in the world. #Ashes
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) November 22, 2017
Bird and Sayers’ ommissions mean that Australia’s first choice attack have stayed healthy after the first three rounds of the Sheffield Shield. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have all battled with injuries in the last 12 months, but will be ready to go on Thursday morning in Brisbane.
Questions were raised when Australia added two extra bowling options to the squad. While Bird was always expected to be 12th man, Chadd Sayers was selected as well, raising speculation over the fitness of the bowling attack. However, the South Australian was always a more likely inclusion for the second Test at the Adelaide Oval rather than the first match at the Gabba.
1. David Warner (vc)
2. Cameron Bancroft
3. Usman Khawaja
4. Steve Smith (c)
5. Peter Handscomb
6. Shaun Marsh
7. Tim Paine (wk)
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Josh Hazlewood
10. Pat Cummins
11. Nathan Lyon
No batting order has been announced. The above is the likely order
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