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.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
That is probably true, but I really would like to see Cummins get through a solid dose of multi-day cricket before being considered for the Test team. Only then will FC form, and physical readiness, really be known. Selectors, however, are likely to think that bowling four overs in a format so different it can almost regarded as another sport is good enough.
VFL is the game
Guest
Really looking forward to this series with Pakistan. This will be a world-beater and the stands will be packed to capacity with thousands upon thousands sitting under the mid-day sun embroiled on the fields of battle. Pakistan are really going to provide a much stiffer opposition than South Africa or NZ. There will definitely be changes of selection with Warner, Smith and Hazlewood struggling to make the impact that they made to such inept bowling as what the NZers provided. Sadly for us it could be another test series loss and the share-market will no doubt plummet with scores of Australians throwing themselves under a bus, driven by a Edward Khan. But we await in eager anticipation for Lehmann's XI to arise like a phoenix from the Ashes against such a formidable opposition. I had better purchase my tickets now along with my hotel accommodation as I can't see myself driving there and back from Noosa with a day-night test match. Looking forward to a riveting match with journalists wrangling their fingers over the contentious issues to base their by-lines on..
Arky
Guest
Maddinson was a "we believe in your potential" pick. I wouldn't have made it, but once they did they had to give him more than one inning as a tryout (well, unless Marsh was ready to return from injury).
Arky
Guest
Hanscomb doesn't train as a keeper anymore.
Arky
Guest
Would be unfair to drop Bird after one Test, especially since he was perfectly ok. He's probably keeping the spot warm for Cummins, though, so Sayers shouldn't get his hopes up too high.
Arky
Guest
He's injured. If he returns from injury and they don't pick him, that's unfair.
13th Man
Guest
To be honest you can't change a winning team. Maddinson did nothing but he got a very good ball from Rabada, if he fails and Marsh proves himself fit for the second test then perhaps you consider the change. I do think Marsh would be a good pick for India. Glad the selectors know more than Channel 9 who were suggesting to drop Renshaw. Good decision. And Wade gets the nod over Nevill simply for yelling out "Niiiiice Gary"!
Jrod
Guest
No idea how so many of you can be positive about Neville. Wade went back, worked hard and did all that was asked so deserved first crack but, mates or not with Smith, he will have to perform because there are a few guys in better "form" (bat and gloves) and selectors unlikely to be overly patient. He will be being scrutinised very closely.
Ozibatla
Guest
There was also a tough catch dropped in perth off lyon. I agree, nevill looked good with the gloves and i recon hes got a good technique with the bat. The facts were though, he wasnt making enough runs with the stick. He admitted that himself. I recon theres always been a certain bias shown towards wade because of his so called dynamic batting. The gilchrist hangover effect continues long after hes retired
Chris Love
Roar Guru
With Smarsh not fit I am happy with the top 6. Had he been fit and declared he was ready to go I would have brought him in for Maddinson and dropped Handscomb to 6. Wade is the only one I'm stewing over. They should have stuck with Nevill.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I can remember one stumping only. Healy and girly probably missed as many as Nevill has over the same period. Until his dropping I thought Nevill's hands were silky.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Don't be surprised if Sayers comes in for Lyon. Day/night+Gabba = possible green top = seamers paradise. I wouldn't put it past them after the dust bowl we had to endure in the UAE.
Brasstacks
Guest
Maddinson lucky to be in there. Kudos to the selectors for persisting with him. I am not justifying his selection for the 3rd test against the proteas mind you. But having picked him, it is only fair to give him a few games to show what he's got. Given the selectors' infatuation with the Marsh brothers, I thought Mitchell Marsh would have been rushed back into the team after his 70 odd the other day, but thankfully that did not happen. So good job by the selectors for once.
Bugs
Guest
The missed catch is irrelevant??? Really? What are you? A national selector??
Bugs
Guest
Hanscombe average somewhere around 25 with the bat when he kept wicket in Shield cricket. BAD call. Wade is undeserving, yes, but putting Hanscombe in his place is even dumber.
Nudge
Guest
Spot on James
Don Freo
Guest
What? He has played no cricket for 3 years? How did he get picked on that? You may just have missed one or two Shield games, Matadors, ODIs...selective!! You've doubled Nevill's errors. Your rhetorical falsities have more than a smidgeon of fantasy, Ozi.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Bird was very ordinary in his first spell or two - got better - but he's done that before - been a slow starter. He's gotta be on from the start.
Perry Bridge
Guest
He's a 'PONI'.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#George in a test match or ODI?