Ashes redemption for dumped Aussie favourite

3 years ago 271

Usman Khawaja is simply a measurement person to a Test recall, aft being named successful Australia's 15-man squad for the archetypal 2 Ashes Test matches against England.

As expected, there was nary country for either Matthew Wade oregon Mitchell Marsh successful the middle-order, with Khawaja and Travis Head apt to conflict it retired for the fig 5 spot.

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Marcus Harris has been named successful the squad and is expected to unfastened alongside David Warner astatine the Gabba.

"Usman Khawaja has been successful large touch," nationalist selector George Bailey said.

"He brings a calm, accordant and experienced constituent to the batting enactment up and is simply a proven tally scorer astatine Test level. He besides has the quality to bat crossed a scope of positions successful the batting order."

Harris has a mediocre Test record, averaging conscionable 23 from 10 Tests, and made conscionable 1 and 0 successful his astir caller Sheffield Shield lucifer for Victoria, portion Head, erstwhile earmarked arsenic a aboriginal captain, has failed to nail down a spot successful his 19 matches.

"Marcus has been a accordant tally scorer domestically and had a beardown wintertime further processing his crippled with Leicestershire," Bailey said.

"He is simply a bully subordinate who volition beryllium looking to physique a beardown concern with David Warner astatine the apical of the order.

"Travis finished past summertime strongly, 2nd lone to Cameron Green for runs scored, and has again started the play well. He drives the crippled guardant and tin enactment the absorption nether unit with his quality to people quickly."

Australia hasn't played a Test lucifer since past summer's 2-1 bid nonaccomplishment to India.

"After an extended interruption betwixt Test matches we are looking to physique a beardown squad mentality crossed what is an incredibly breathtaking summertime of cricket," Bailed added.

"This radical is good balanced to guarantee we are prepared for the galore challenges of an Ashes Series. It has a premix of experienced, proven performers and emerging, processing talent.

"We volition instrumentality this 15-player squad into the opening Test successful Brisbane and the pinkish shot lucifer successful Adelaide, aft which we tin reassess for the remaining matches."

Australia has besides named a further 11 players for a circuit lucifer against the England Lions, a database that includes erstwhile Test batters Matthew Renshaw and Nic Maddinson, on with rising stars Henry Hunt and Bryce Street.

Full Ashes squad:

Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.

Additional Australia A players:

Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Nic Maddinson, Mitchell Marsh, Matt Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Bryce Street.

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