The 13-man Australian squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka has been announced. Will Pucovski, the 20-year-old top-order batsman, is the surprise inclusion in the squad along with Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw’s return to the squad. Meanwhile, Aaron Finch has been dropped out along with Marsh brothers and Peter Handscomb.
The fifth-ranked Australian Test side is currently under pressure after recently losing their first ever home Test series against India. In fact, it was their first ever home Test series defeat against an Asian side as the visitors India won the four-match Test series by the 2-1 margin.
While the Australian cricket team is now preparing for the upcoming three-match home ODI series against India, their 13-man Test squad has been announced which will feature in the two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka that will begin after completion of the ODI series against India.
Australian selectors have been disappointed with the recent Test performances of Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh and Peter Handscomb as these players have been dropped out from the upcoming Test series. Also, the pacer Chris Tremain, who hasn’t made his Test debut yet but was in the squad during the home Test series against India, hasn’t selected for the upcoming Sri Lanka series.
On the other hand, the selectors have added the Queensland openers Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw in the squad. However, the most surprising selection is Will Pucovski – the 20-year-old Victorian top-order batsman. Recently, in October 2018, the right-handed batsman played a double-century knock (243 runs) against Western Australian (at Perth) in the 2018/19 Sheffield Shield.
Talking about the Australian squad selection, the national selector Trevor Hohns said, “Joe Burns has had strong performances in first-class cricket this season, and we believe he can contribute strongly if given the chance in the series.
“Matt Renshaw is a player with the ability to make big scores, and at 22 years old has 10 first-class centuries. He also performed extremely well in England during the County season. We see him as a long-term prospect as a Test player and have confidence in his ability to bounce back following a string of low scores early in the Shield season.
“Will Pucovski is an exciting young player who is making his mark in the Sheffield Shield. He is another player with a track record of making centuries. We look forward to him joining the squad and congratulate him on his first national call-up.
“All three will play in the CA XI match prior to the first Test, to give them the best possible preparation to play Test cricket for Australia.”
The Australian selectors have also selected the Cricket Australia XI (CA XI) squad for the only three-day day/night warm-up game against Sri Lanka at Hobart that will be played prior to the Test series. However, the 12th man of the CA XI will be selected later.
Full Cricket Australia XI squad for the three-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka (12th player will be named soon): Joe Burns (capt), Kurtis Patterson (vc), Scott Boland, Jake Doran (wk), Jon Holland, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Will Pucovski, Jason Sangha, Matt Renshaw, Chris Tremain.
Full Australian Test squad for the upcoming home Test series against Sri Lanka: Tim Paine (capt/wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle.
Full schedule of Sri Lanka tour of Australia in 2018/19
(Only three-day warm-up game)
January 17-19 (Day/night): Cricket Australia XI vs Sri Lanka – Bellerive Oval (Hobart)
(Two-match Test series)
January 24-28 (Day/night): First Test – The Gabba (Brisbane)
February 1-5: Second Test – Manuka Oval (Canberra)
