Cameron Green will have the opportunity to push for a Test return, while Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft will hold a triple audition for the soon-to-be-available opening Test spot in Australia between Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft after they were named in a The Prime Minister’s strong XI will face Pakistan in a four-day tour match in Canberra ahead of next month’s Test series.
The selectors have effectively named an Australia A XI with significant Test experience for the match which begins at Manuka Oval on December 6. Nathan Lyon’s understudy Todd Murphy and fringe Test seamer Michael Neser have also been named in a squad to be captained by South Australia’s Nathan. McSweeney, who has already led Australia A twice this year against New Zealand A.
Jimmy Peirson has been named goalkeeper and has featured regularly in Australia A over the past two years. Josh Inglis, who usurped Alex Carey as ODI keeper in the World Cup but remains the Test back-up, is resting after remaining in India for the five-match T20I series after the World Cup.
Nathan McAndrew has been rewarded for his excellent form on the ball this season, while Mark Steketee has been a regular in Australia’s A teams in recent years.
Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster has been rewarded for his phenomenal start to the Sheffield Shield season with bat and ball, earning his first call-up to a representative team since playing two matches for Australia A in 2016. Webster posted scores of 62, 64, 32.*, 59, 70, 97* and 103 in the first five Shield matches and has taken wickets in every game, including 4 for 32 against South Australia.
Webster has been called up after Western Australia all-rounder Aaron Hardie, who was scheduled to be included, was called up to Australia’s T20I squad for the five-match series against India starting on Thursday.
Green had signaled his inclusion during the World Cup by not having played any red-ball cricket since losing his place in Australia’s squad for the final Test of the Ashes series. He remains behind Mitchell Marsh as Australia’s first-choice Test all-rounder but is keen to take his spot back from him and has every chance of featuring during the summer of Tests. Marsh experienced some pain due to the increased bowling load during the three Ashes Tests he played, having not played first-class cricket in two years prior to the Ashes and had not played consecutive first-class games in four. years.
There will be a lot of intrigue surrounding the top three picks: Harris, Renshaw and Bancroft. It will be interesting to see who will bat at number 3 as the trio have been opening for their states and are all vying for David Warner’s Test spot once Warner retires after the Pakistan series. The Prime Minister’s XI will be the last first-class match either of them will play before Australia’s first Test against the West Indies in mid-January, when a new opening match will be selected.
Some BBL clubs will be the most affected by the naming of such a strong team. Talks had been going on for several months between various clubs and selectors about how this match would affect BBL teams. Brisbane Heat will be the hardest hit, with Peirson, Neser, Renshaw and McSweeney unavailable for their first two games on December 7 and 9. But they hope to have opener and Test captain Usman Khawaja available to play before the first. Test against Pakistan on December 14 in Perth, although the Test team will assemble on December 9.
The Melbourne Stars will be without Webster and Steketee for their clash against the Heat on opening night, while the Sydney Sixers will be without Murphy for their match against the Melbourne Renegades on December 8. Lyon has already stated that he is interested in playing for the Renegades that night at the SCG. while the Sixers are hopeful that Steven Smith will be available.
Only eleven players have been named to face Pakistan to avoid further withdrawals from the BBL to spread the drinks. Leading local ACT cricketers will be involved with the team over the four days to train and support the team. Former Sri Lanka batsman Thilan Samaraweera will coach the team having been part of the Australia A and Australia underage teams as an assistant coach for the last two years.
Prime Minister’s XI: Nathan McSweeney (captain), Cameron Bancroft, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Beau Webster
