Two spinners added to the Australian squad for the third Test

"Bit of a Tool" , that's the understatement of the year Basil.

Agreed. I'm not sure why Agar got the call, is it a hint that he's going to India?

You can't have Agar at 6. What are people thinking? He's got a head for pressure, I'll grant you that. He's played some remarkable innings for WA under the pump but he's not consistent at all and does not have the record to back him at 6.

Lyon does just enough to retain his spot when he is on the verge of getting dropped.Did the same against south Africa.

Agar at number 6 doesn't make sense.He has a paltry batting average of 26.

Agree with you Lancey. It's a good outcome either way and another future looking selection that is also based on merit and recent form. I would be happy with either Cartwright or Agar at 6. I wouldn't be surprised if they rest Starc given his workload and the fact it is a dead rubber. I hope the selectors are still open to dropping Wade for Nevill or Whiteman or Hartley for India. Surely one more failure with the bat in Sydney would convince them?

Warne ... Great bowler. I wish he went low key after retirement. Bit of a tool really.

You are aware that O'Keefe has been picked in the squad, the Sydney test will be played with a red ball and that Wade isn't fit to bat anywhere in the 11?

Lyon just does enough when he is about to be dropped to retain his spot.Lehmann almost confirmed he will be a certain starter in sydney

Hard to see this squad as not being influenced by Warnes comments this afternoon. He was continuing to call SOK a white ball specialist and advocating Agar, Zampa and swepson for the test squad. The man knows nothing about domestic cricket, and strikes me as the kind of guy that won't watch a day of cricket he's not being paid to pay or commentate on. I remember him advocating Michael Beer during the 2009 ashes as a local expert for the WACA. Beer had recently moved from Victoria and played 2 first class matches at the WACA total. But the selectors picked Beer for the squad... But anyway. The squad chosen isn't bad, with half an eye to the India tour I'm sure. I'm not 100% sure Agar is ready to bat at 6 in a test match, despite his debut. Unless the plan is to send Wade up to 6, which probably can't hurt, given our recent history at 6. Just some one please duct tape his mouth shut, because I can't stand hearing about how nice Lyons bowling is.

@dan Ced, unfortunately Lehmann basically confirmed Lyon will play as one of the two spinners .So it is a shootout between agar and sok.I think selectors will go for agar.

@dan Ced, unfortunately Lehmann basically confirmed Lyon will play as one of the two spinners .So it is a shootout between agar and sok.I think selectors will go for agar.

Agar at 6. Seriously? I don't think it will happen. Agree with Cartright at 6 with a first class average of 45 compared with 26 for Agar. Looking forward to see how he goes. Cartright can also bowl a bit which allow the selectors to rest Bird - which is unfortunate for him as he's been terrific - and play Stark, Hazelwood, O'Keefe and Lyon as the main bowlers with Cartright providing a bit of medium fast back up. I also hope Smith gets to bowl a few leggies..

It's an exciting squad. Both Agar and Cartwright could be very important parts of this side for years to come so it's a pretty good outcome either way. I'm expecting Agar to play (hopefully at 6. Wade at 6 is awful. Just awful) as I reckon the selectors still favour pace to do the damage and want to go with 3 frontline quicks. This would also mean Lyon plays ahead of SOK unfortunately

Or better still, why not get an all rounder who can actually bowl? Like a Faulkner? Or a Stoinis? Or even a Mitchell Marsh? Agree with head but selectors made it clear they wanted a pace option all rounder.

I'd go for Cartwright 6, WK 7, OKeefe 8, Starc 9, Hazlewood 10, Bird / Lyon 11. Selectors will go Agar 6, WK 7, Starc 8, Hazlewood 9, Lyon 10, Bird 11.

I'd love to see Cartwright have a go, simply because he has a really good first class batting average in the first part of his career. He doesn't need to be a bowler that takes wickets, he just needs to develop into a bowler that bowls 10 overs a day for 20 odd. I'm pretty confident the changes will be Sok and Cartwright in for Bird and Maddinson.

So I guess Agar is there if they decide to go with three quicks. Agar bats at 6 or 7 and we get the same four bowlers from Melbourne. If they decide to go for two specialist spinners, Cartwright comes in with SOK and Bird misses out. I'd go the first option simply because I don't think there's ever a good reason to play two spinners in Australia. I'd take Bird over O'Keefe any day of the week. However, I don't rate Agar and Wade at 6 and 7, although I suppose Agar could hardly do worse than poor Maddinson.

On the captain's goodies list, even Smith couldn't save Maddinson but Wade was saved. I would have brought Whiteman in or Nevil back. Cartwright could be a good choice. A batting average of over 40 in the Shield and can roll the arm over like a Waugh or Walters. Head wouldn't have been a bad choice either.

Warner, Renshaw, Khawaja, Smith, Handscomb, Cartwright, [SPEW], Starc, O'Keefe, Lyon, Hazelwood Sorry for Sayers, but it is a spinning pitch. [SPEW] should've been dropped, nice garry is the most annoying thing in the world, and ALL he brings to the team, an annoying skillless little brother. This is SOK's chance to once again show up Lyon and cement his place for India.