close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Australia will rest Test stars for the T20 series against Pakistan
news

Australia will rest Test stars for the T20 series against Pakistan

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia have left out their entire first-choice Test team for the upcoming Twenty20 series against Pakistan so they can prepare for a five-Test series against India starting later this month.

In a busy month of cricket, Australia will play Pakistan in three one-day internationals from November 4, which will be immediately followed by the three-match T20 series starting in Brisbane on November 14.

The third and final T20 is on November 18 in Hobart, just four days before the first Test against India in Perth.

Only Josh Inglis of the T20 squad is considered an outside possibility of being named to fill the vacant opening batting position for the first Test, with Nathan McSweeney and teenager Sam Konstas seemingly higher in the selection pecking order, along with Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft .

Pace bowlers Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson have been recalled to the white-ball squad after recovering from injuries.

“This group of players have all represented Australia in T20 cricket, so we look forward to them continuing to enhance their international experience during this series,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said in a written statement on Monday.

“It is extremely encouraging to have Xavier, Spencer and Nathan back in the national team.”

No captain has yet been named to replace the incumbent Mitch Marsh. Inglis, Adam Zampa or Glenn Maxwell are seen as the most likely contenders to captain the three games in Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart.

Pakistan has named its T20 and ODI squads for its Australian tour on Sunday.

——-

Australian squad: Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

___

AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket