Three big omissions, five fresh faces in Aussie Test squad
Raw paceman Brendan Doggett is among five uncapped Test players included in Australia’s squad for a two-match series against Pakistan.
Doggett, a 24-year-old Queenslander who made his first-class debut less than a year ago, is joined by fellow Test newcomers Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser in the squad.
Veteran paceman Peter Siddle has been recalled and spinners Ashton Agar and Jon Holland are also in the 15-man squad announced on Tuesday.
The squad is without banned batsmen Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, and injured fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell, Joe Burns and Peter Handscomb are all unlucky to miss selection, despite featuring in Australia’s last Test squad against South Africa.
Doggett made his first-class debut last October and has taken 31 wickets in eight first-class games.
“Brendan is an exciting prospect, a fast bowler with raw pace and wicket-taking ability,” chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a statement.
“He provides an additional option to Mitchell Starc if extra pace is called for and this is an ideal opportunity to get him involved in a national set-up.”
Finch appears the frontrunner for an opening batting spot in the absence of Warner and Bancroft, with Matthew Renshaw also favoured for the top-order role.
“Aaron is in sensational form and this is the right time to give him a chance to play Test cricket,” Hohns said.
“He has performed well in the Sheffield Shield in recent seasons and brings added experience and leadership to this group.”
South Australian captain Head and Queensland batsman Labuschagne have pressed their claims with run-scoring on the current Australia A tour of India.
And Hohns said South African-born Neser, a bowling allrounder, had also impressed on the Australia A tour.
Stalwart Siddle’s last Test was in November 2016 and he’d recently been among the wickets in English county cricket.
“His experience will be crucial for this bowling group, and we know that he is a warrior who can bowl the type of long, tight spells which may be required in the conditions we expect to face,” Hohns said.
Aaron Finch is in line for a Test debut after being included in Australia's squad to play Pakistan in the UAE; Burns, Handscomb, and Maxwell droppedhttps://t.co/w8rcm1GWd9 pic.twitter.com/YPpB4hr73p
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 11, 2018
Wow Test squad named for Pakistan Test series 💥 @petersiddle403 good to see you back 👍 🍌
Finchy 1st Test tour
Other Newbies- Laubushagne, Doggett, Neser
No Maxy, Handscomb 🤔
Tremain Unlucky#PakVAus— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) September 11, 2018
Especially happy for Travis Head, Jon Holland and Peter Siddle. Brendon Doggett worth the go. But Labuschagne ahead of Handscomb and Patterson? And no Maxwell?
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) September 11, 2018
The series against Pakistan, starting in Dubai on October 7 with the second Test in Abu Dhabi from October 16.
“There has been significant change to our Test squad due to the unavailability of a number of key players,” Hohns said.
“That said, we firmly believe the squad selected is up to the challenge ahead and is capable of playing a brand of cricket that can perform well.”
Squad: Tim Paine (capt), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc.