Queensland batter Matt Renshaw could play his first Test in more than three years after earning a recall to the Australian squad for next week’s series finale against South Africa at the SCG.
Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar is also in the mix for inclusion in the final XI after he was also named in a 14-man squad for the clash with Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green ruled out due to finger injuries.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is likely to return to the side after recovering from a minor side strain after sitting out the past three Test wins over the West Indies and Proteas.
Young speedster Lance Morris is a strong chance of making his Test debut after coach Andrew McDonald indicated earlier this week that he was keen to see the West Australian get a chance at the top level.
CLICK HERE for a seven-day free trial to watch cricket on KAYO
Renshaw, who played the last of his 11 Tests on the South African tour of 2018, has been one of the leading batters at Sheffield Shield level this season and his ability to shift between opener and the middle order is a feather in his cap as the selectors may bring him in at No.6 to replace Green if they go with only four frontline bowlers in Sydney.
Matt Renshaw. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Victorian left-hander Marcus Harris has also been retained in the squad but is seen as more of a specialist opener.
Renshaw, 26, was rushed into the Australian team in 2016 at the side’s lowest ebb during a home series collapse to the Proteas alongside Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson.
He made a century and three half-centuries in compiling 636 runs at 33.47 before a form slump not only led to him being dropped from the Australian team but he was dumped by Queensland in 2020 as he struggled to find runs.
Agar’s best chance of playing would be as the second spinner if the SCG looks like it will turn more than it has in recent years.
He could fill a role as a No.7 batter with keeper Alex Carey bumped up the order after his breakthrough Test century in the win at the MCG.
Agar has had an unusual career at Test level – he made a spectacular 98 on debut, batting at No.11, as a 19-year-old in the 2013 Ashes tour opener, played the next match but has only ever been picked twice since, during the 2017 series in Bangladesh.
The 29-year-old, has represented Australia 67 times in the white-ball arena, is a strong chance to be Australia’s second spinner behind Nathan Lyon in February’s four-Test tour of India.
Selector Tony Dodemaide said: “Ashton offers a second spin option should the Sydney pitch be conducive to turn, as it has done in the past. He also brings a solid batting component.
“Matthew is included as a versatile batting option who is in good form, including an unbeaten century in the recent PM’s XI tour match against the West Indies.
“In terms of fast bowlers, it’s a blessing to have Josh (Hazlewood) returning while Lance (Morris) offers a genuine point of difference with his raw pace and skill.
“This squad will cover all bases for when we get to Sydney and assess the conditions closer to the Test match.”
Australia will start heavy favourites to complete a clean sweep over the Proteas after thumping them in the first two clashes.
(Photo by Mark Brake – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Australian squad
Pat Cummins(c)
Ashton Agar
Scott Boland
Alex Carey
Marcus Harris
Josh Hazlewood
Travis Head
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Nathan Lyon
Lance Morris
Matt Renshaw
Steve Smith
David Warner
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Of course I don't need to provide "evidence". He provides it with his bowling and his captains provide it by hardly ever giving him the ball.
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
“Renshaw is not close to being a first-class bowler. He has as much chance of getting a bowl as Alex Carey.” “I’d say he’s far less than ” decent”…”. To evaluate the quality of your opinions, you need to provide evidence. Can you do that?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Personal? I'm asking if you have an opinion. Don't feel a failure if you don't have an opinion but you might ask why you're on an opinion site. Strange. You have already produced evidence, statistically, that he is a cactus bowler.
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
So rather than providing evidence to support your opinions, you get personal. hmmm….
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Silly comment on an opinion site. Do you have any opinions or are you just scrolling through the desk calendar for the saying of the day?
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence" (Hitchens's razor)
Ace
Roar Rookie
Pretty much sums up any part timer like Head, Smith and Manus But they bowl them when required so they could bowl anyone
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No.
Mike
Guest
Sheek, I think you've missed a point here that Christopher the Daddyo has kinda raised. Even considering dropping Boland demonstrates how it really is a batsman's game. It wouldn't even be on the radar to drop a batsman with the equivalent stats to Boland just so we could have a look at somebody else. 6 Tests, 28 wickets, 12 average, 33 strike rate. Not too shabby. Would we be dropping an opener who had 6 Tests, a couple hundreds and a 60 average just so we could check out another option? Of course I get the Voges thing but Boland can only play against the opposition in front of him and I think it's fair to point out that his much admired bowling team mates have been out-performed by him across the 6 Tests he has played. Yep, it's much easier to get "flicked" as a bowler, even if you are returning stats beyond expectations! For mine, drop Warner and let's have look at Renshaw with England and India in mind or tell Warner his time is up and he can have this final Test in Aust to say goodbye. The guy is nearly 37, won't get any better in England/India, is clogging up the natural flow of the next generation and probably should be hankering to spend more time at home being a father and husband to the family he professes to love so much! He's had his fill. His 200 was a beacon amongst a swamp of Test match rubbish over the last two years. He should do a bit more BBL and IPL, if they'll have him, and then go home, be proud, and be a middle aged bloke raising a family.
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
You gave no evidence to support your opinion. Now, do you see my point?
Andy
Guest
There is nothing wrong with Murphy's batting or fielding. He has already seen the Vics home with the bat in a Shield game. He is a decent number 9 and his fielding is good.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
What a waste of talent. If only Kudleep had an Australian Grand Parent. Maybe keeping him hidden to Skittle Oz? - Agar has no test Cred. https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/cricket/i-was-in-tears-kuldeep-yadavs-coach-hails-spinners-mature-reaction-on-being-dropped-after-motm-performance/ar-AA15Q764
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Nah. He had a bruised heel. It's not bruised any more.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The average is the evidence. If you compare him with Joe Root, you are comparing him with a non-bowler. You make no point.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
England blessed when Bairstow kept and batted #6
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
How about some evidence? Here’s mine: Joe Root averages 48 (>6K balls) with the ball in FC cricket, and Renshaw averages 42 (870 balls). I think that Root also bowls decently.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'd say he's far less than " decent"; he's what we old timers used to call a 'giggly' bowler.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
The way it looks is this. Agar goes from twelfth man into the side. Morris becomes twelfth man. Renshaw comes in at six, although he is not the best first-class batter in Shield ranks and not the best opener against real pace. Bancroft , despite three centuries,including one against Qld, a thousand balls faced and batting a whole day is still on the outer. At least Renshaw is better than Handscomb against the new ball, after the pitch has dried out a bit, but bowling him in a Test? Persuade me...
Ace
Roar Rookie
Ans another thing Don. I said he was a decent PART TIME bowler..if you care to read back. I merely suggested he could bowl if asked ..much like Head, Labuschagne or Smith
Ace
Roar Rookie
Alex isn't too bad either