Cameron Bancroft will be given a golden opportunity to press his case to be David Warner’s successor as Test opener after being picked for Australia A.
Bancroft has been included in a squad that will play two four-day games against New Zealand A in Brisbane and Mackay.
The 30-year-old hasn’t played for Australia since the 2019 Ashes, but is coming off an outstanding Sheffield Shield season and a stint in County Cricket.
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Warner wants to bow out of red-ball cricket after January’s SCG Test against Pakistan.
Runs at The Oval in the final Ashes Test will help his case to hang on for a home farewell.
Marnus Labuschagne. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
Despite some tremendous form, Bancroft was overlooked for the recently-completed Ashes tour as a back-up opener in favour of Matt Renshaw.
Australia A will also three one-day games against their New Zealand opponents, with selectors focused on October’s ODI World Cup in India.
As floated by chairman of selectors George Bailey on Monday, Test No.3 Marnus Labuschagne will play in the games in Brisbane and Mackay after being dropped for the preliminary 18-man World Cup squad.
The Australia A games will be stacked with plenty of international talent, with Matt Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy, Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner and Renshaw selected for the one-day matches.
The first four-day match begins at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on August 28, with the one-dayers starting on September 10 in Mackay.
AUSTRALIA A FOUR-DAY SQUAD: Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jordan Buckingham, Ben Dwarshuis, Caleb Jewell, Campbell Kellaway, Matthew Kelly, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Joel Paris, Jimmy Peirson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Tim Ward.
AUSTRALIA A ONE-DAY SQUAD: Wes Agar, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Liam Hatcher, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben McDermott, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Matt Short, Mark Steketee, Will Sutherland, Ashton Turner.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Awesome start for the Aus A boys in the first 4 dayer at AB Field, NZ 7/87(30.4ov), Jordan Buckingham continuing his meteoric rise with 3/7 off 7 overs, Steketee has 2/19. AUS A side for this match Bancroft, Ward, Jewell, McSweeney(c), Kellaway, Pierson, Paris, Perry, Steketee, Swepson, Buckingham. One interesting player in the Kiwi side is Ajaz Patel who become only the 3rd bowler to take all 10 wkts in a Test innings a couple of years ago. Not a particularly great NZ side on paper at least, all but one over 28. Like that Australian side, good mix of players knocking on the door and talented youngsters.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No real need for a long term opener...or a long term anything. Warner and the NSW quicks illustrate the problems with 'long term'. Incumbent can be an anchor. Pick those in form. Continuing form makes them 'long term'.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
ridiculous what are they smoking
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Well last time out as I recall Marnus had a great ODI series in South Africa.., In fact when Aus played a game at Potchefstroom , a University town where he incidentally comes from , he got more fans cheering him than The Proteas did :laughing: I suspect..well I know , many his own family .. :cricket: :cricket:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He has played some cricket against men.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
His name is Daniel Hughes 578 runs @57.00 last Marsh Cup, averages nearly 38, in both FC and 50 overs, as good as Renshaw, Harris and Bancroft and yet never got an A gig let alone an Australian side. Geeez he must have upset someone, coming from NSW.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Just like they did with Marsh for the Ashes the biggest fluke roughie since Peter Taylor.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
At the same time as the 4 day games are being played, Sutherland, Rocchiccioli, Kellaway, Harper, Ward, McSweeney, as well as Cooper Connelly and Aus U19 captain Joel Davies are going to the MRF Cricket Academy in Chennai.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Matt Kelly springs to mind.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
A dirty brown paper bag :stoked:
Rellum
Roar Guru
You are confusing good selection policy with the current selection policy
JohnB
Roar Rookie
And maybe that's it - but shouldn't you need to be a decent first class bowler rather than just a left hander before getting picked in a squad like this?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Perhaps the
most under-ratedleast rated cricketer in Australia.Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
I'd like to have seen Matt Kelly in one team. He's averaging 28 in FC over 51 games with 12 four and five wicket hauls and 19 in T20 with a strike rate of 14
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Kellaway is a better prospect than Chandrasinghe. McSweeny is a strange selection. Hilton Cartwright is way better but they seem to want to find a fluke roughie...put in a thumb and pull out a plum
Rellum
Roar Guru
Joel Paris and Dwarshius are the back up lefties to Starc and Johnson. Without looking these two might be the best 3rd and 4th options for Starc's spot.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
Rellum, yes, but that doesn't explain why you would pick Dwarshius. I don't have anything in particular against him and it's fine to pick him in limited overs sides, but he hardly seems to have made any case to be in a 4 day squad.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
He is an underrated short form cricketer. His languid approach to test batting probably doesnt help his cause
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Khawaja should be in the one day squad. He probably will not be at the world cup but should be close to being in the squad deserves a chance to push his case.
The Idiot
Roar Rookie
Plenty of older guys who have been playing for a while and are not likely to be big stars in the 4 -day squad. Things don't look good down the track - where are the young stars?