A 12-man Australian Test squad, including injured captain Michael Clarke, has been named for the first Test match against India starting in Brisbane on December 4.
After being all but ruled out of the series after re-injuring a troublesome hamstring, Michael Clarke’s chances of playing improved late last week, as it was reported he could potentially recover in time for the opening match.
In light of this, the Aussie captain has been named in the squad and will be given every chance to take the field.
It was hoped that Clarke would be able to take part in the round of Sheffield Shield games taking place this week, however his recovery has forced him to instead aim for the two-day CA XI match against India at Adelaide Oval starting on Friday.
National Selector, Rod Marsh made it clear, “His [Clarke’s] selection for the first Test is very much dependent on him pulling up well from that match.”
Speaking on Clarke, Team Doctor Peter Brukner said: “We still have some time before having to make a final decision on Michael’s fitness.
“As you would expect, he’s desperate to play and we are doing all that we can to ensure he can do just that.
“Over the coming days the plan is to build him up so that he can resume running with the ultimate aim of getting him some high-intensity match practice ahead of the first Test.”
The two big moves made by selectors were to drop Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell from the side that lost to Pakistan, making way for debutant Josh Hazlewood and the return of Ryan Harris.
Commenting on the inclusion of Hazlewood and Harris, Marsh stated: “Josh is a young player of great talent and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity.
“He has impressed in the recent one-day series and we are excited to see what he can produce if given the opportunity in Brisbane.
“Ryan has worked extremely hard to return to elite cricket following his knee surgery. We know what a quality player he is.
“He will play in this upcoming round of Sheffield Shield to get more bowling under his belt but we are all hopeful he will be ready for a big summer of cricket.”
The 12-player Australian squad for the first Test:
Michael Clarke (c)*
Brad Haddin (vc)
Ryan Harris
Josh Hazlewood
Mitchell Johnson
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Chris Rogers
Peter Siddle
Steve Smith
David Warner
Shane Watson
*Notes subject to fitness
Piper Pete
Guest
Hughes is dead man, he cant be selected
Armchair Expert
Guest
The only thing I can come up with is the selectors picked Hazelwood for the 1st test on ODI form, in Starc's 1 shield game his return was 7wickets@16.7, Hazelwood's 1 game yielded 3@46, I also wonder how Hazelwood was selected in the ODIs with his domestic one day return of 2 wickets@ 106 this season, it appeared the selectors had Hazelwood penciled in before the season started and his performances were irrelevant.
Don Freo
Guest
I just think Hazlewood is better. I also think Starc is better than Siddle but Sidds has been such a successful workhorse, he should be given his chance to start.
Jimmy
Roar Rookie
Really like the squad, nice to see that we are getting back to the days of no surprise selections
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Not one of the favoured ones? He got picked for test cricket off the back of pretty ordinary first class returns to begin with. I'm not sure what's going on with him but considering how much international cricket he's played, I'd hardly say that he hasn't had opportunities. When Mitchell Johnson is finished, Starc will be his replacement but due to them both at times being wayward, maybe they don't want them in the same attack. It could just be as simple as that and probably is. I was just trying to see if anyuone knew of any more gossipy reasons as to why he's in and out of the team.
Steele
Guest
No flak from me, he is a more consistent bowler than Starc. The selectors have had an eye on him for years as he was a very handy junior.
Don Freo
Guest
Very good, Chui. Don't think Johnny will get it. Might have a few...issues...our boy, Johnny.
Don Freo
Guest
What...no wicketkeeper at all?
Don Freo
Guest
That's interesting, James. "If Harris says he’s fit that’s good enough" but if Clarke or Haddin say they're fit, you've decided they are not.
Jo M
Guest
Did you not see what Morne Morkel did to him in SA? He got 160 odd. Won't worry him at all.
Jo M
Guest
No attitude problem, no fighting with anyone and fits in and supports everyone. Lovely kid. I think he is just unlucky in that he isn't one of the favoured ones and you have to be unfortunately, doesn't matter what level of cricket it is.
James T
Guest
If Harris says he's fit that's good enough. With Watson and marsh in the side starc was a better option . Carrying two all rounders and an injured Clarke and Haddin have me very worried about our batting if smith and Warner fail. How does Lyon get picked, we are no chance in England if Lyon is the front line spinner.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I believe there are plenty of people who have a problem with picking two left arm quicks in the same team. If the best quicks are all left-armers, then pick them just as you would if all the best quicks were right-armers! I'm also convinced that while he's considered by many to be basically battling with Johnson for the one spot, and therefore no hope currently, that they consider him the best exponent of reverse swing in Australia and therefore when faced with spinning conditions, that generally means the big route to success as a pace bowler is reverse swing, they select him for those matches, and then when back in conditions that will suit a pace bowler they don't need a reverse swing merchant anymore so they go back with whoever there preferred options to play alongside Johnson are. Thus resulting in him rarely getting a game in decent pace bowling conditions.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Warner for a while was pigeonholed as a T20 specialist and NSW didn't pick him in their Shield team. When they finally did he came out and scored a lot of runs in his first season. Finch on the other hand has played many poor seasons of first class cricket. Really poor. All while playing well at ODI and T20 level. Based on that he would at least need a good season of 40+ averaging in the Shield before anyone should consider him for test cricket. Maxwell should never have been in the test team, but at least he's managed a first class average of 40, Finch is nowhere near that.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Muppet, if you look at the stats I think you'll find Starc isn't actually any more expensive than anyone else. On the last Ashes tour of England lots of people made that argument as a reason for picking Bird ahead of Starc, yet Starc actually had a better economy rate than Bird across all tour matches played, so I think it's one of those things that's more an impression than a reality. Broken-hearted toy - Starc keeps getting picked to play in conditions where the selectors decide Siddle can't be at all effective because they are bad conditions for pace bowling, but hopefully Starc can get reverse swing and do okay, then when they get back to pace bowling conditions again they go back to Siddle. So people are left comparing Starc's returns on batting roads versus someone like Siddle in better bowling conditions. Not particularly fair really!
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
But this is what I mean. Why is this happening? Has he got an attitude problem? Has he had a fight with someone? Does he not fit in with the team?
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Saw Bosisto got suspended. Wonder what Murali taught him...
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Yeah mate, as I said in the other article, picking Hazlewood over Starc is ridiculous.
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
My prediction:20 wickets for ishant this series......
Shortfineleg
Guest
Clarkey has set up a fitness test for Sunday. He's going out to pick up the papers from his front lawn. Selectors are welcome to view.