Steve Smith has stated that he will still play in the middle order but drop down to number four in place of the all-rounder in the test side, meaning that there is now a gap going forward that can only be filled by Usman Khawaja.
Captain Mitchell Marsh, their T20 captain along with his test comrades shall miss the upcoming three match series against Pakistan in November in light of upcoming test matches in Australia against India which are the focus for them.
It was also a surprise to see none of the regulars in the Australian test side included in the squad for the match series in Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart announced on Monday, as they now have time to prepare for the first test match against India which is taking place in Perth on Nov 22.
Cricket Australia put out a statement saying select T20 players may move into the test squad post the last T20 match in Bellerive Stadium on the 18th of November but cross selector George Bailey later said that that will only be the case in the event of injuries.
“Please, we know that we have been saying all along that we are missing and showing no focus on the individuals and their readiness prior to the start of the test matches. We are more focused on the Australian summer,” Bailey said speaking during a video call with reporters.
“We were simply making it explicit that should (something) shift, that we can always…a person over to Perth.”
This will be disappointing for the likes of Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, who may have been clinging to the last shred of hope of being called up as the 5th batsman following Cameron Green’s injury that ruled him out of the entire season.
Steve Smith will move down the order and step in for the all-rounder at number four in the test team, however this leaves a gap at the top order with Usman Khawaja.
Bailey though said the selectors did envision Inglis as a possible test opener.
“I don’t think that he’s someone that we’d be looking to place at the top of the order. But there’s no doubt that his form is really fantastic at the moment,” he said.
“He would firmly come into the mix purely as a batter… and I think if the right opportunity opened up throughout the summer… in the spots where we think he’s most capable of performing, then I think he’d be firmly in that conversation.”
Seamers Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson return to the T20 side after recuperating from injuries suffered either prior to or in the course of the white-ball tour of England and Scotland in September.
Bailey, however stated that the leader of the team would be revealed closer to the first game of the series scheduled at the Gabba on November 14.
“I think there’s a number of players with the ability to captain and some that have some experience captaining as well,” he added.
Australia’s Squad Includes Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.