Australia have announced a 13-member squad for the first Test in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy which starts on the 22nd of November in Perth. Nathan McSweeney and Josh Inglis have earned maiden call-ups in Test cricket.
Both batters have been in magnificent form this summer. McSweeney has been highly impressive over the last couple of seasons and has extended his form for Australia A as well. The 25-year-old South Australia batter racked up two fifties and a hundred in four innings in Sheffield Shield 2024-25. He then top-scored (across both teams) with 166 runs in four innings against India A in a series that was dominated by the bowlers. Hence, McSweeney is expected to make his debut in the first Test and partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Sam Konstas, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft were the other names who were in contention for the second opener’s slot. Bancroft has had a shocking start to the 2024-25 summer, making just 29 runs in eight first-class innings. Harris has batted well and Konstas has been a name that’s been doing the rounds quite a bit now. The latter was impressive in the fourth innings run-chase in the second match against India ‘A’. He got twin centuries against South Australia at the start of the season.
Meanwhile, Inglis has been picked as the spare batter and reserve wicket-keeper. The 29-year-old Western Australian has scores of 122 & 48 (vs Queensland) and 101 & 26 not out (vs Tasmania) in the ongoing Sheffield Sheild season. His overall first-class average reads 36.49.
Rest of the Australia squad on expected lines
The rest of the squad is on expected lines with skipper Pat Cummins leading the pace attack. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are set to start alongside Cummins. Scott Boland is the other fast bowler in the squad. Nathan Lyon is the only spinner.
Steve Smith who opened the batting in Australia’s last two Test series will slot back at No. 4. Along with him, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh will form the crux of the middle-order. Marsh may well be used a little more with the ball in the absence of Cameron Green. Alex Carey is the first-choice wicket-keeper. The left-handed stumper has been in stupendous form. He is at the top of the run charts in the ongoing Sheffield Shield, racking up 452 runs at an average of 90.40.
Australia last won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back in 2014-15. Since then, India have beaten them twice each at home and away. Hence, the Pat Cummins-led side will be desperate to get their hands on the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR 1ST TEST: Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon.
