Australia has announced its squad for the much-anticipated Ashes series starting in Edgbaston on Thursday.
As widely expected Steve Smith and David Warner make their return to the Test squad, while Cameron Bancroft has also forced his way in, meaning all three of those suspended out of the sandpaper scandal are a chance to play in the opening Test.
Bancroft had starred in the Australians’ recent intra-squad match with an unbeaten 93 in the final innings on a difficult Southampton pitch to guide the Graeme Hick XII to a five-wicket victory over the Brad Haddin XII.
He will likely battle incumbent Marcus Harris for the chance to partner Warner at the top of the order.
Matthew Wade has also been named off the back of a stunning run of form over the last 12 months, which saw the left-hander finish the Sheffield Shield season as the competition’s second-leading run-scorer.
A further three centuries from Wade across the Australia A tour made his case for a Test berth undeniable.
Though he is unlikely to take the gloves from captain Tim Paine, Wade is considered a strong chance to appear as a specialist batsman.
Among the other notable inclusions are James Pattinson, who after a series of injuries will be looking to feature in his first Test since 2016, and Queensland paceman Michael Neser.
A five-wicket haul in the intra-squad hitout and the lack of all-round options in Australian cricket appears to have also helped Mitchell Marsh’s hopes of resurrecting his Test career.
Despite the extended squad, there are still some hard luck stories however, with Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson overlooked, even after both notched up centuries in Australia’s most recent Test against Sri Lanka in February.
Though there were calls for him to be included, World Cup hero Alex Carey has also been left out.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (c) (Tasmania)
Cameron Bancroft (Western Australia)
Patrick Cummins (New South Wales)
Marcus Harris (Victoria)
Josh Hazlewood (New South Wales)
Travis Head (South Australia)
Usman Khawaja (Queensland)
Marnus Labuschagne (Queensland)
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Mitchell Marsh (Western Australia)
Michael Neser (Queensland)
James Pattinson (Victoria)
Peter Siddle (Victoria)
Steven Smith (New South Wales)
Mitchell Starc (New South Wales)
Matthew Wade (Tasmania)
David Warner (New South Wales)
Jeff
Roar Rookie
None of those players were competing for a specialist batting spot. Unfortunately for Burns, his recent performances going back to the start of March didn't warrant him being selected ahead of Warner, Harris, Bancroft: 18, 0, 19, 0, 133, 0*, 10, 31, 3, 11, 0, 28, 0. (His 133 coming against a poor Sussex attack). He forced the selectors to omit him when the opportunity was in front of him. Hazelwood is returning from injury so the selectors likely feel he is progressing satisfactorily to warrant selection at some point in the next 6 weeks. Starc - not sure why you would say he's not in form. Marsh - clearly the selectors want a pace allrounder and feel Marsh best fits that role of those available. His recent stats are posted above.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
"Will be interesting to see what the poms come up with." .. I think they can cross sandpaper off the list of things to try. .. Seriously though, I'm more worried about conventional swing early tbh. It might even be a minor victory if we can get the ball to the stage where we have to worry about reverse. That Broad test still gives me shivers.
Gordon Smith
Guest
England just bowled out Ireland for 38
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Bancroft- good luck trying to hit the swinging ball with the inside of your bat, huge technical fault.
Jero
Roar Rookie
"Salt to the wound". That a player who won't get picked for the XI gets "picked" ahead of another who wouldn't have got picked for the XI. That's got to hurt. But if it makes you feel better, why not.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Another option, but probably a bad one, is to call him a front line bowler and bat him behind Paine at 8. I wouldn't do it now but there was a time a few years ago when he was bowling as well as anyone in the team. Did Ok with the bat but his bowling looked really strong. The only problem with it is you have to drop a specialist bowler so it's not going to happen. I don't think they'd trust his bowling enough for that. I know I wouldn't.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Not a great deal. All his figures (including Aus A one day) since he came back from injury in March: 1/13, 29, 5/34, 23 (v Haddin XII) 38, 1/38, 26, 1/15 (v Eng Lions) 4*, 0/30 (v Gloucs one day) 3/43, 53* (v Gloucs one day) 0/34, 29* (v Derbyshire one day) 2/41, 40* (v Northants one day) 2, 1/40, 105, 0/16 (v QLD) 6, 3/21, 42, 3/76 (v Tasmania) 17, 31 (v South Aust)
Cricket fan
Guest
So, what did Burns and Patterson?
Old mate
Roar Rookie
Marsh has been treated favorably, and not for the first time. At least the selectors are consistent
MarkD
Guest
Joe Burns missing out was predictable, especially after his failure in the 2nd dig of the Aus AusA match. Do i feel for Burns ? Of course! The Mitch selection is just salt to the wound as far as I'm concerned. One player who is a proven performer at test level constantly being dumped whilst a serial failure at test level is continually picked . Apparently having a proven failure is good for team balance or something or other . So obviously you think 3 bowling allrounders is a must for squad balance or just another 'Marshette'.
Cricket fan
Guest
But look at bancroft he is a all three formats player and should be in ODI also and can play long and tidy inning through all day and he proved it in FC level.....
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
He's probably high up in the reserve list. If someone gets injured he could come into the squad and who knows from there.
Cricket fan
Guest
If he called up in 11 he must bat at 11
Jero
Roar Rookie
Sorry VivGilchrist. I should have recognised that your statement was pointless.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Why pick Marsh ahead of Burns. Burns done well in comparison with the others & looks like a test player. Marsh won’t make runs in England it swings. Dumb. Burns is in the best top 6. Better than Harris & Head. And as good as Khawaja. Poms will win easily.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Any reports on whether the CSIRO have a count on the amount of brain cells Australian selectors have?
Jero
Roar Rookie
Exactly. 25-17 = 11.
Cricket fan
Guest
Are you serious what! Bancroft have done? He is a wonderful batsman solid gritty and has every aspect of game defensive offensive every, but yeah am not saying Burns did nothing he is also very good player but you can't match both because Burns didn't play 100 test so, IMO both are equal in terms of experience and batting composer and Wade huu you know......all
Simoc
Guest
Great to see they picked Wade and not so good that they picked Marsh who seems more suited to ODIs. I don't think they need Neser and Marsh so the only difference to me would be Burns for M Marsh. I think it was Wade or Carey and Wade certainly deserved the spot.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Josh I've said more than a million times - CSIRO scientists are estimating 1.2 million - that Mitch Marsh should not be in the Ashes squad.