Published: Nov 18, 2015, 10:47 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 18, 2015, 10:53 AM (IST)
Steve O’Keefe was a surprise inclusion Wednesday in Australia‘s squad for the historic day-night Test next week against New Zealand, while Shaun Marsh and James Pattinson earned recalls. Left-armer O’Keefe, who made his Test debut against Pakistan in the UAE last year and has remained on the selection panel’s radar since, was added as an extra spin-bowling option ahead of Ashton Agar and Glenn Maxwell. Marsh is set to play at Adelaide Oval in place of injured batsman Usman Khawaja, with Pattinson the frontrunner to take retired paceman Mitchell Johnson’s place for the third Test starting on November 27, where an experimental pink ball will be used. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs New Zealand 2015, 3rd Test at Adelaide
There were no other changes to the squad that drew with New Zealand in Perth, with 12th man Peter Siddle retained.
“Stephen was included in our squad that was to go to Bangladesh and if he should get an opportunity we think he will make the most of it,” chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said.
“We have opted to include an extra spinner in the squad for Adelaide as we are unsure what conditions we will see there.”
Pattinson, who has struggled with injuries, is expected to play his first Test since March 2014 after Johnson Tuesday announced his immediate retirement from all forms of international cricket, saying he had lost his hunger.
“James has made a good return to (domestic Sheffield) Shield cricket following his injury and has earned this recall,” Marsh said.
“He has worked incredibly hard and we are confident that he is ready to perform at Test level if selected.”
Marsh, meanwhile, has been given another chance to extend his stop-start Test career and play alongside brother Mitch after Khawaja strained his left hamstring in the field during the second Test.
Khawaja, who scored centuries in each of the first two Tests against New Zealand and was hoping to cement his place at number three, is expected to be sidelined until the second Test against the West Indies in Melbourne starting on December 26.
“Shaun was unlucky to miss out on the squad for the first two Tests and since then has scored consistently in Sheffield Shield, so we believe he deserves this opportunity,” said Rod Marsh.
Australia squad for 3rd Test: David Warner, Joe Burns, Steve Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe, Peter Siddle.
