Australian squad for India tour reveals four specialist spinners

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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The Steve Smith-led Australian team will travel to India for a four-match Test series fully stacked with 4 specialist spinners and a spinning all-rounder in the form of Glenn Maxwell. The selectors also recalled veteran batsman Shaun Marsh to the side along with pacer Jackson Bird for the series.

Australia will hand rookie leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson his Test debut against India after he was named in the 16-man squad on Sunday along with fellow spinners Ashton Agar, Nathan Lyon, and Stephen O’Keefe for a five-week long tour of India. Swepson, 23, has played 14 first-class matches for Queensland, taking 41 wickets and currently represents Brisbane Heat in the BBL. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who last played a Test match in October 2014 against Pakistan, will provide the team with a fifth spin option.

The visitors' pace department will be spearheaded by left-armer Mitchell Starc while Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird complete the pace line-up for the Aussies. Meanwhile, Matthew Wade has been named as the sole specialist wicket-keeper in the squad, with Peter Nevill snubbed for the tour.

Their batting line-up also looks strong with the experience of captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Usman Khawaja in their ranks. Australian selectors also recalled the Marsh brothers, all-rounder Mitchell and batsman Shaun for the tour of the sub-continent. Contrary to heavy rumours, the selectors retained Matthew Renshaw for the tour, after the left-hander scored a brilliant 184 in final Test against Pakistan. Peter Handscomb will most likely be the emergency wicket-keeping option in the squad, with the 25-year old picked into the squad for his consistent performances in the series against South Africa and Pakistan.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said the selection panel chose as many spin options as possible to give the squad flexibility.

“We don’t know what pitch conditions we will come up against in each of the venues but wanted to have flexibility and options,” Hohns said. “We know India is an incredibly tough place to tour and have success in, with most international teams struggling to adapt to the conditions.

Spinner Ashton Agar who had drowned under the weight of expectations early in his career will look to redeem himself in spin-friendly conditions in India.“(Agar) is a good left-arm orthodox spinner who can be very exciting with the bat and also fields extremely well. He provides us with a great

The first test begins at Pune on February 23, the second at Bangalore on March 4, the third at Ranchi on March 16, and the fourth at Dharamsala on March 23.

Australia's squad for India tour

Steve Smith (captain), Matthew Wade(WK), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O’Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson.

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