Sam Konstas has been dropped from Australia’s Test squad for the first Ashes Test against England with Jake Weatherald called into his first international squad as the national selectors pick a 15-man group that gives them a host of options.
Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped in West Indies earlier this year, is set to be recalled into the XI following a prolific start to the season with Queensland but where he bats remains uncertain given a specialist opener in Weatherald has been included rather than a more versatile spare batter.
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Allrounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster have both been named in the squad although it remains to be seen whether both will play in the same XI as they have done in Australia’s last four Test matches.
Steven Smith will captain the side in Pat Cummins’ absence. Cummins, who has been battling a lumbar stress injury, will travel to Perth with the group and continue to build up his bowling loads in the hopes of being fit for the second Test in Brisbane.
Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon look set to be the four-man attack, supported by at least one allrounder, with Lyon returning to the XI after being left out of Australia’s last Test in Jamaica when the selectors opted for four quicks.
Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott have been named as the reserve fast bowlers. Doggett returns to the squad after being withdrawn from the Caribbean tour due to a hip injury.
Abbott remains in the squad having been a reserve fast bowler on both the West Indies tour and the tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. There is no room for Michael Neser despite his excellent start to the season for Queensland having taking 11 wickets in his first two Shield matches on batter-friendly pitches including two four-wicket hauls.
Josh Inglis has been included as the reserve wicketkeeper but can also fill a role as a reserve batter having played in Barbados at No.4 in place of the injured Smith. He also kept wicket in Australia last Test bowling innings in Jamaica when Alex Carey was subbed out with concussion.
Australia squad for first Test against England
: Steven Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
More to come …
