Australian selectors have put their faith on young players who have proved their worth in the first round of the Sheffield Shield by awarding maiden call ups to as much as five players such as Cameron Green, Will Pucovski, Mitchell Swepson, Sean Abbott, Michael Neser.
Will Pucovski pushed through the selection door by smashing a truckload of runs in the ongoing round of the Sheffield Shield 2020-21. He has plummeted 495 runs at an astounding average of 247.50 in his two matches as an opener and got the attention from Australian selectors. His unbelievable achievement of consecutive double centuries that also included his career-best inning of 255 not out while also debuting as an opener in first-class cricket was well recognised by the national selectors and now the 22-year-old Pucovski will compete with Joe Burns in Australia A team for an opener’s slot to partner with David Warner.
"Will's record-breaking start to the summer has been exceptional. His ability to show such patience is something which stands him in good stead for Test cricket and he is in rare company with two double centuries to start the summer. We very much look forward to Will developing further on the international stage," national selector Trevor Hohns said on Pucovski’s selection into the Australian Test team for the series against India.
All-rounder Cameron Green has made a name for himself and has already earned a place in the Australian limited-overs side. His all-round ability has been rated highly by selectors and they believe that Green has in him to become a formidable all-rounder for Aussies in coming years. Green has resumed bowling in the past two weeks before hitting a 197 that earned him reckoning and selector Hohns has said that Green’s batting alone suffices to make him a contender for a place in the squad to face India.
"Cameron has already won selection in the white-ball squad and continues that in joining the Test squad. He is a wonderful young talent who has great potential to become an allrounder of substance over time. His batting alone has demanded his place in the squad," Selector Hohns said on Greens’ merit for selection into the Australian Test team.
On the other hand, the pacer duo of Michael Neser and Sean Abot has been drafted into the squad to give a cushioning to an all impressive pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins. Both of them have had a good Sheffield Shield 2020-21 with the bat and that will offer Time Paine a luxury of an extended batting order.
Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson has been picked for an impressive summer so far for Queensland and selector Hohns has said that his inclusion will beef up the spinning stocks of the Australian Test team. Swepson’s place in playing XI looks remotely possible only when the team management will decide on going in with two spinners with Nathan Lyon being the leader of the Australian spin department.
Tim Paine (captain and wicketkeeper), Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski
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