Cricket Australia (CA) has announced its frontline squad for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) Final against India which is scheduled to take place in June. Australia finished first in the WTC Cycle 2021-23 and will battle it out for supremacy against the subcontinent giants.
The CA announced a 17-member squad that will also play the first two Ashes games against England. The squad will likely be restructured after the second test depending upon the results. The iconic 5-match Ashes Test series will begin right after the conclusion of the WTC Final.
Notably, Marcus Harris and Mitchell Marsh have been named in the squad along with David Warner whose form was questioned after a blizzard performance against India. The likes of Cameron Bancroft and Michael Neser who finished as the top run-scorer and wicket-taker respectively have been left out of the squad.
Marcus Harris had a fabulous domestic season as he scored 601 runs in the Sheffield Shield tournament. Harris will act as a backup to the frontline batting duo of David Warner and Usman Khwaja. Travis Head is also being played as he might be tested in the middle-order.
Mitchell Marsh has stormed back into the Australian Test squad after a long time as he last featured in a red-ball game against England in the 2019 Ashes. Marsh is a perfect backup for Cameron Green and the new-ball bowlers including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Josh Hazelwood. Interestingly, speedster Lance Morris has been left out.
Todd Murphy has also retained his spot in the Australian test team after a fabulous debut against India. He will act as a backup spinner to veteran Nathan Lyon. Meanwhile, Josh Inglis has been named as the backup wicketkeeper as Peter Handscomb misses out. Pat Cummins will continue to lead the side alongside his deputy Steve Smith.
Here is Australia’s Test squad for the upcoming WTC Final and the Ashes against England:
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc.
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