Australia Names 18 Man Squad For Tour To India
There is no more difficult task in test cricket that touring India and actually winning a series here. It seems an improbable task for every team and now, Australia who are set to tour India for four match test series starting from February 9 have enlisted 18 members squad.
Australian team remains mostly unchanged from what it was during their home series against West Indies and South Africa. There was no reason to change an already formidable squad that scored 400 runs five times in five matches. Espically, when their batting prowess has been at its peak, scoring 5 double tons and one near double ton of 195 runs by Usman Khawaja.
There are certain winners and new names added to the squad. First in 22 years old right arm off spinner Todd Murphy who played in U-19 World Cup and is part of Sydney Sixers in currently going Big Bash League league. India is mostly known for having dry wickets where slow left arm bowlers get more assistance compared to spinners.
Murphy has impressed the selectors with performance at domestic level. He was part of PM’s XI team against West Indies and took 27 for 3 which a disciplined bowling method.
Michael Swepson who made is debut against Pakistan last year is handed another opportunity to play against India. The leg spinner took 10 wickets at an average of 45 during sub continent tour to Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
He hasn’t had the Big Bash season he hoped for, taking only one wicket in 9 matches and leaking over 9 runs per over. But selectors have showed faith in him because he is an always persisting bowler who will desire to bowl tough overs regardless of the circumstances.
Lance Morris is no surprising name the squad. The fast bowler has been constantly bowling thunderbolts over 145kmph click. Knowing that there’s no availability of swing so having a hit the deck bowler will be pretty handy for the side.
As the Australian team calls him “The Wild Thing”, he has been performing so well in Sheffield Shield, bagging 27 wickets at the average of 18.4. He is quite consistent with his bowling and can be perfect replacement for Mitchell Starc who is set to miss the first test match.
Peter Handscomb and Matt Renshaw have been handed another chance to play in the test series in India. When Australia toured India last time, both were part of the team. Their inclusion suggests that Australian selectors want a couple of middle order players who can tackle spinners of sub continent pitches. It will not be an easy job but they have been in solid in domestic cricket.
So far this summer, the duo has been among the Sheffield Shield’s most remarkable. With 571 runs scored at an average of 81.57, including an unbroken 281 against Western Australia in mid-October, Handscomb is by far the top run scorer. Renshaw, who has played in five games and has an average of 51.7, is the only other hitter to have hit a Shield double digit total thus far this season.
Australia Squad For Tour To India
Full squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
Border-Gavaskar Tour of India 2023
February 9-13: First Test, Nagpur
February 17-21: Second Test, Delhi
March 1-5: Third Test, Dharamsala
March 9-13: Fourth Test, Ahmedabad