Australia add 4 standby players to squad for Pakistan Test series

The Australian men’s team will be touring Pakistan for a three-match Test series starting from March 4. Australia will be looking forward to claiming a few important points in the World Test Championship. The Aussies have been in great form following their dominating victory in the Ashes and will be keen on capitalizing on this rich vein of form.

With the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 4th of March, Australia announced their squad recently. George Bailey, Australia’s National Selection Panel Chair, announced an 18-member squad for the Pakistan tour. The announced squad features 14 out of the 15 players from the victorious Ashes side.

Keeping the imminent threat of COVID-19 in mind, Bailey announced that there will be 4 standby players who’d be traveling with the side. The standby players’ names are Queensland’s Matt Renshaw and Victoria’s Nic Maddinson in batting and Sean Abbott and Mark Steketee.

Out of the retained squad members, the young West-Australian quick Jhye Richardson was the only one not to feature as he chose to stay back in Australia. Other than the 14 players, Ashton Agar, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, and Mitchell Swepson have also been included.

“We’ve got four guys on standby,” Bailey said on SEN 1170 The Run Home on Wednesday. “That’s because of the risk of COVID and injury risk with some domestic cricket, plus these five internationals (T20s against Sri Lanka) over the next couple of weeks as well.

“Matt Renshaw and Nic Maddinson on the batting front I think are two guys that we’re really happy with how they’re going at the moment. We’re looking forward to them continuing their form over the next little period,” added Bailey. Renshaw and Maddinson have made their debuts for Australia in the Test arena, while Abbott and Steketee are yet to feature for the side.

“Sean Abbott and Mark Steketee on the bowling front. They’ve both been around the Australian group at different times. Any of those four, when they do get their opportunity, I’m really confident they’ll do a great job,” Bailey said.

Australia’s last tour to Pakistan was 24 years ago

This will be the first series on Pakistani soil between the two passionate cricketing nations in 24 years, with the crucial ICC World Test Championship points up for grabs. The last Australian side that toured Pakistan then was under the captaincy Mark Taylor in 1998. The visitors won the series 1-0 then.

Here’s a look at the Australian squad for the Test series:

Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.

Reserve Players: Matt Renshaw, Nic Maddinson, Mark Steketee, Sean Abbott