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Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) has today announced a 12-player squad to face world number one ranked Test nation South Africa at the Gabba next Friday in the first Test of the 2012-13 international summer of cricket.
The major change to the look of the side the naming of Matthew Wade, who likely replaces Brad Haddin as Australia’s long-term wicketkeeper.
Haddin, who has played 43-Tests in the baggy green last featured for Australia in Adelaide against India in January. He missed the West Indies tour in April for family reasons.
Wade, 24, made his debut in Barbados on April 7 and posted a century in the third Test in Dominica. Tasmanian Wade’s 106 was the only century by an Australia player in the series.
Ed Cowan retains his spot as opener, with no changes to the top-six. Ricky Ponting will be hoping to continue his run of form through to the Test series against South Africa.
He has scored some 350 runs at an average of 125.00 in three matches and has hit 162 not out, 60 not out and 85 not out in his last digs at first-class level for Tasmania.
Commenting on the team, National Selector John Inverarity said: “The 12 man squad for the first Vodafone Test against South Africa is as many have predicted.
“Most discussion centred on the wicket-keeping role with both Matthew Wade and Brad Haddin presenting a strong and compelling case for inclusion.
“Matthew came into the Australian ODI team in February and has since acquitted himself especially well.
“Matthew and Brad both went to the West Indies; Matthew as our preferred ODI and T20 player and Brad as our incumbent and preferred Test match ‘keeper. As is widely known Brad returned to Australia early in the tour due to family circumstances and as a consequence Matthew was our Test ‘keeper for the three Test matches.
“He kept and batted very well and made a match-defining brilliant century in the second innings of the Third and final Test against West Indies.
“Since then he has played and gained valuable experience in England, the UAE and Sri Lanka. As a young player, getting better by the month, he is thoroughly deserving of his retention.
“While Matthew has been retained as the Test ‘keeper, Brad remains a player of significant interest.
“The last Test match that Australia played, the Third Test in the West Indies last April, included Ryan Harris. Ryan is continuing his rehabilitation from injury and is unavailable.
“Peter Siddle and James Pattinson have recovered especially well from the injuries that rendered them unavailable for that last Test in West Indies. In fact, they have been enjoying an ideal preparation for the first Vodafone Test in Brisbane having played in three Bupa Sheffield Shield games with another one to come later this week.
“The squad will assemble in Brisbane on Monday and will have three days of intensive preparation together to be ready for the beginning of this long awaited series starting on 9 November,” said Inverarity.
The Australian squad for the first Test (Brisbane, Gabba, Nov 9) is:
| Player |
State |
Age
|
| Michael Clarke (c) |
NSW |
31
|
| Shane Watson (vc) |
NSW
|
31
|
| Ed Cowan |
TAS
|
30
|
| Ben Hilfenhaus |
TAS
|
29
|
| Mike Hussey |
WA
|
37
|
| Nathan Lyon |
SA
|
24
|
| James Pattinson |
VIC
|
22
|
| Ricky Ponting |
TAS
|
37
|
| Peter Siddle |
VIC
|
27
|
| Mitchell Starc |
NSW
|
22
|
| Matthew Wade |
VIC
|
24
|
| David Warner |
NSW
|
26
|
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