Australia have named their 12-man Test squad to play New Zealand in the first two games of a three-Test series, starting on Thursday at the Gabba.
Steve Smith will skipper a new-look squad, with David Warner announced as vice-captain.
The squad is a strong indication of the new look Australia. Four pace bowlers named include Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle, along with spinner Nathan Lyon, likely to miss out.
Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja have done enough to convince selectors to name them, and are the two new faces in a side that is also likely to see Adam Voges retained, with Mitchell Marsh to take up the duties as an all-rounder.
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It is an interesting time for Australian cricket, with plenty of debate in the lead-up to the series about who should take their spot in the order after the retirements of stalwarts Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris.
Burns is likely to partner Warner at opener, with Khawaja, Voges, and Marsh to take up the middle order batting spots.
It’s unclear which bowler will miss selection, but Peter Siddle would be the most likely of the candidates, despite his record at the Gabba which includes a hat-trick at the ground, during the 2010/11 Ashes.
Australian Test squad to play New Zealand in three-Test series
Steve Smith (c)
David Warner (vc)
Joe Burns
Josh Hazlewood
Usman Khawaja
Mitchell Johnson
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Peter Nevill
Mitchell Starc
Peter Siddle
Adam Voges
Selector Rod Marsh said this was an exciting era for Australian cricket.
“We will need to play at our best to beat a very talented New Zealand side, but we think this squad has the goods to do it and also provides an opportunity for some exciting younger players to make their mark in the Test arena,” Marsh said.
Khawaja has not played a Test since August 2013 while Burns’ last innings was in January, where he made scores of 58 and 66 against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“Usman is a very good player of fast-bowling and is a fine technician; we feel he will make a really solid contribution towards our batting this series,” Marsh said.
“Joe thoroughly deserves his chance and was unlucky to miss out on the West Indies and Ashes tours off the back of two decent performances in his last Test match for Australia in Sydney.
“He also put in terrific performances during the recent Australia A Series in India .”
“Adam [Voges] is a calm player with a cool head and brings a lot of experience to the side. He has a solid Test and first-class average and will provide good support to our two young leaders in Steve Smith and David Warner.
“Mitchell provides good balance as the all-rounder and we believe he has a great future as a player for Australia.
“We are pleased with how our bowling unit is going at the moment. Both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood had fantastic performances in the Matador Cup and Mitchell Johnson looks ready to fire after a decent break.
“Off the back of a great bowling performance in the last Test Peter Siddle earns his selection with Nathan Lyon, a proven performer in the side rounding out our attack.”
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I'd agree with you. This team is very dependent upon Smith and Warner to get runs. Very dependent. Take out Smith early in the tests and ball will be in the Kiwis court.
TC123
Roar Rookie
I'd say that this is perhaps the weakest Australian side that NZ has faced on Aussie soil for years. That's not to say I expect the black caps to dominant, far from it. But id say the Kiwis are confident of being competitive through this series as we were in England.
Don Freo
Guest
He was always being mentioned on The Roar when he was playing.
VivGilchrist
Guest
Might not be fast, might not be tall, BUT he takes wickets. Hey Don I realise he is coming back from injury, but what I am saying is despite his record he never seems to rate a mention. Thank you for your slight insult though. When you disagree with me I know I'm on the right track.
G
Guest
Yeah I don't understand why the selectors pick so many Blues, it's not as if they have been thrashing everyone since getting their Internationals back...
G
Guest
I agree Mitch Marsh is worth persisting with, he's a once in a generation talent; better to develop him than give his spot to a specialist batsman who may be flat out matching his runs anyway. Once he is consistently scoring runs Aus will have the best team on the planet with him as the 4th seamer behind any 3 of our brilliant quicks.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
nah just some local slang mate not a compliment bacically means talking s**t.
Rob JM
Guest
Not enough unrealized potential for the warrior's!
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
You can see that far into the future? How's the bond market looking in June next year?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Sayers has just returned from a serious ankle injury. Tim Nielsen has said they're wary of rushing him back into the Redbacks side and want to ease him into things in grade cricket. Sayers is an absolute gun - to have 129 wickets at an average of 24 in FC cricket while based on the flattest pitch in the country is amazing. Unfortunately for Sayers he isn't tall and bowls 125-130kmh so doesn't fit the mould of what Lehmann and co. want in the Test team.
my2cents
Guest
My 2nd XI would be a bit different as well I'd go Cowan, Bancroft, Handscomb, Maddinson, Ferguson, Stonnis, Carters (WK) Steve O'Keefe Patto, bird, Zampa
Don Freo
Guest
No WA element in that comment. Sayers doesn't play any more. If he is back playing grade cricket, why don't they pick him for SA. Get with the current season Viv.
Don Freo
Guest
His second innings bowling was even better. Averaged 50 with the bat and took 5 wickets for 61 off 33 overs with the ball. You don't like that form, Nic?
Don Freo
Guest
Trout? Trout is pure quality. That's what you intended? You sounded like you are going for an insult but that's a compliment. You are a confusing man...but I thank you.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Whiteman for Paine.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
It would be lovely to watch at any rate. Agar is a most aesthetically pleasing batsman when he gets going.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
No you don’t pick whoever’s in form at First Class level. You pick whoever you think will get the job done. It also follows, that if they will get the job done now, then they’ll get the job done into the future. Of course you are best placed with a multifaceted selection policy, with hopefully enough depth in the ranks to think there will be a variety of age groups from which to choose who will get the job done. If you pick solely for the future that isn’t here yet, you run the risk of giving games to guys who will never make it (of course that’ll happen anyway, which is why you have a multifaceted selection policy).
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Because in Test cricket age is irrelevant. You pick to win the next Test." I hear so many cricket fans say this and it always perplexes me. If you want to follow this philosophy then you will just have a group of 11 guys, you won't build a team...you'll just keep churning through blokes as you dump a player with a couple of low scores and pick whoever's in form in the Shield. Only picking a team to win the next Test would result in a constant turnover of players which means most guys in the side would be looking over their shoulders feeling they could be dropped at any time. Good luck getting the best out of players in that environment. What helps make a great Test team is chemistry and understanding between the player group and a sense of the roles they have to play and of a belonging and respect for their efforts. Has there ever been a good Test team in modern history that went by a philosophy of chopping and changing constantly by only picking a team to win the next Test, disregarding the notion of player development? I can't think of one.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I acknowledge your taking the p, however - re Klinger - what I don't like is the selectors coming out with the C and Bull about Klingers average - over his entire 1st class career at the age of 35. This annoys me greatly - what we need to consider is his 'form' average. 2014/15 Shield season : 1046 runs at 58. compared to Burns one less match, 250 less runs at 52. And Kuwaja a season to forget due to injury. gratned 2013/14 avg only 46 for 568 runs and 2012/13 only 40 for 330 runs. So - that's Shield only - and he's exceeded the 38 mark across that time frame. So - at very least - Rod Marsh et al - do us the favour of talking in recent history. After - the Chris Rogers experience illustrated just why the 'younger for younger sake' argument can fall down and why forcing players to force their way in should be a good thing. However - not sure that the quality has been knocking at the door - let alone know the address - however we have at least seen for the Vics the next big thing in Travis Dean. 263* from his first 2 innings and every minute on the field = astounding. For Dean - looking back at his last 3 previous opportunities at 'Rep level' (even if U23s) : 217*, 63 Vic U23s v WA U23s Perth 19 Oct 2015 43, 0/14, 116 Vic U23s v Qld U23s Melbourne 2 Mar 2015 187*, 0 Vic U23s v Tas U23s Melbourne 16 Feb 2015 so, when given a higher calling, in 2015 - he's not failed to make it count and - when you look at the fact that of the 3 100s for Vic U23, 2 were unbeaten and BIG hundreds, and after his debut shield game - this guy is definitely one to look out for. 626 for 4 outs in U23s there and not 263 for no outs. 889 for 4 outs. Not bad at all.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Because in Test cricket age is irrelevant. You pick to win the next Test. Voges is in that side.