Australia’s 15-man squad for their upcoming tour of the UAE has been announced, and one thing is patently clear: Justin Langer’s first Test team will be one of the weakest fielded by Australia in recent memory.
With Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all serving suspensions following the infamous ball-tampering scandal earlier in the year, and pace duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out through injury, the available batting and bowling stocks are awfully thin.
Tim Paine will captain a side which is awfully low on both experience and Test runs – Paine (40.82) is one of only two squad members to average more than 40 in Test cricket, Usman Khawaja (42) being the other.
Shaun Marsh, Matt Renshaw and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh are the only other recognised batsmen with Test experience in the squad. Aaron Finch, Travis Head and bolter Marnus Labuschagne are in with a chance of making their five-day debuts against Pakistan, having all been picked in the touring party.
Finch has been in imperious limited-overs forms as of late, scoring 589 runs at 147 for Surrey in the Vitality Blast, England’s domestic T20 competition. However, his one County outing ended with scores of 43 and 32, and his first-class average sits at just 36.15.
That mark is almost identical to Head’s career average in the whites (36.09). But both batsmen have plenty of international experience in limited-overs cricket, having played 132 ODIs and 58 T20Is between them.
Queenslander Labuschagne is one of the biggest bolters in the squad, having beaten out Glenn Maxwell for the final batsman’s position on the back of some solid scores for Australia A. Labuschagne’s state teammate Joe Burns was also overlooked for selection.
The side’s attack will be led by regulars Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, but there is precious little Test experience in the rest of the bowling contingent – with one notable exception.
Peter Siddle, who hasn’t played for Australia since South Africa’s tour of Australia in 2016, has earned a shock recall after some excellent performances in County Cricket. The Victorian quick took 37 wickets at the impressive average of 16 in seven games for Essex, and now has the chance to add to his 62 caps and 211 wickets for the Test side.
Siddle’s Victorian teammate Jon Holland is likely to play as a second spinner alongside Lyon. Left-armer Holland has played just the two red-ball games for Australia, both of which came on the ill-fated 2016 tour of Sri Lanka.
Uncapped duo Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett are the other two pacemen in the squad. Both are currently playing in Australia A’s second first-class game against India A in the subcontinent.
While Neser was always a chance of earning selection, the decision to pick Doggett comes as a massive surprise. The 24-year-old has played just eight first-class games, having made his debut for Queensland in the 2017-18 Sheffield Shield season, and has taken 31 wickets at 28.19.
There is no room for West Australian tearaway Jhye Richardson, even though the youngster toured with Australia in South Africa at the start of the year.
Ashton Agar has beaten out Mitchell Swepson to nab the final spinner’s position.
No vice-captain for the tour has been named yet – Tim Paine’s deputy must be approved by the Cricket Australia board before being confirmed – however a number of players, Mitch Marsh chief among them – are believed to be in the running for the position.
Australian Test squad for tour of UAE vs Pakistan
Tim Paine (c)
Ashton Agar
Brendan Doggett
Aaron Finch
Travis Head
Jon Holland
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Michael Neser
Matthew Renshaw
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Starc
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Yep, it is literally a waste of space. Horrible.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
CA instructing Maxwell not to play county cricket so he would be set for the UAE could be one of the reasons Glenn is complaining.
JimmyB
Guest
Haha, I just assumed that you were very very drunk. Not a fan of this new format at all, seems like I’m not the only one.
AREH
Roar Guru
I must admit I did have higher hopes; it's at least sharper and videos run smoother, but navigating through the comments is trickier than ever.
anon
Roar Pro
It's just bullying. Schoolyard bullying plain and simple. Throw in a whole lot of jealousy too. They hate how Maxwell made huge money in the IPL and doesn't need the ACB. They all thought they deserved the money not Maxie. Langer shown he's not up to the task of coaching Australia with such a weak excuse.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
He was told not to get a gig in England in the off season so that he would be set for the UAE tour. He has every right to be pissed off.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Head and Maxwell have the same number of first class centuries, although Head has played 10 more matches and has a worse average. Head has a couple more domestic one day hundreds which must be very relevant for a test series on the subcontinent. I expected Langer to not get caught up in the BS reasons for selection bias. Just say it like it is. No matter how many runs Maxwell makes, he is way behind in the test pecking order, despite his gutsy test century in India last year. He, with Clarke and Smith are the only Aussies who have tonned up in India on either of the last two tours. Sanity would suggest that's a big achievement for one regarded so cavalier in his approach. Should have been worth some loyalty but not with our selectors.
anon
Roar Pro
You can't take much from a middle order T20 batsman coming in with 5 overs left. Of course he's not going to make hundreds.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
3, 62, 31, 19, 10, DNB, 0*, 10, 56, 5....Maxwell's last 10 games (ODI and T20, no first class). Langer said he was picking performance over potential. Perhaps consistency is a factor as well....and first class games. Instead of complaining about not being on the Australian A team, is there a reason Maxwell couldnt have tried to play for a county?
kopa shamsu
Guest
ya,in a match where opposition scored 500+,getting dropped at none and batting at no 5 being a captain. 2 single digit with 1 duck. Kurtis patterson 31,13,48,4 (no duck) batting at opening who bates at one down. Surely i am flattered by sir mitch marsh.
kopa shamsu
Guest
you mean at autralian flat track when now he is going to face pakistan in UAE? or that one he made in SA? (that was good one in his billion attempt followed by another billion failures).
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
Maxwell? happy to see Siddle back; although can't see him enjoying the conditions in UAE.
Daniel Saunders
Roar Rookie
We have fielded some pretty inexperienced teams in recent times, but this is just ridiculous. I cannot believe the omissions of Maxwell, Burns and Handscomb. I think it will be: Renshaw Finch Khawaja S Marsh Head M Marsh Paine (c) Agar Starc Holland Lyon
dan ced
Guest
Sayers > Siddle any day of the week. Ferg > Smersh Tremain and Maxwell certainly should be filthy. I would pick Maxwell in ANY discipline over Agar every time. No idea what they see in him (probably just that debut innings). Doggett clearly there for the experience, not to play. I think Neser might get more wickets and runs than Mitch Marsh, he's not as flaky, even if Mitch might have a bit more pace. Renshaw Khawaja Head Labuschagne Finch M.Marsh Paine Starc Neser Lyon Holland (sick of Smersh, retire already).
JamesH
Roar Guru
You get Doggett and Siddle over Tremain?!?
JamesH
Roar Guru
I suspect it will be: Khawaja Renshaw S Marsh Head Finch M Marsh Paine Agar Starc Neser/Siddle/Holland Lyon
Matt H
Roar Guru
There’s a lesson here about not typing in a small phone. Predictive text and no edit function is killing me!
Ernest
Guest
Langer certainly talks up Bancroft whenever he gets the chance. Has previously stated that he has him around for meals at his place. Bancroft is the 'teacher's pet'. Through not picking Burns one less obstacle to Bancroft's return is eliminated. Burns wasn't picked for the just completed A tour for fear that he would succeed. Also how then could he improve he's supposed weakness against spin when not given any opportunity to do so. I am already sick of Langer saying that they are all good young men regarding those that are chosen for various squads. Is Burns then not a good bloke? (and Maxwell too). I wished a reporter yesterday asked Langer why Burns wasn't chosen for the tests against Pakistan. Perhaps they were told not to, which wouldn't surprise me.
Jo M
Roar Rookie
Langer and Hohns' excuses about Maxwell are just rubbish. They told him not to go to England for county cricket so he could prepare for this A tour. Then they didn't pick him for the A tour so he could be ready for this test series?
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
I don't quite understand Head and Finch being picked (fine white ball players but haven't shown a lot in red ball form) over Maxwell and Burns who are both experienced and have recent runs on the board in red ball cricket. It was like Maxwell and Burns weren't given the chance in the A tour in case they succeeded and Finch was given the chance in case he failed. At least Head made some runs on the tour. And I like young Doggett having watching him live he is quick but surely Tremain is ahead of him.