Australia selectors favour spin options for Bangladesh tour
Australias spin mix for Bangladesh remains a source of intrigue with coach Darren Lehmann giving little away after a three-day trial match, reports Daily Telegraph.
The 14-man squad will enjoy a day off on Thursday after toiling in hot conditions at a Darwin training camp designed to prepare them for the two-Test series commencing in Dhaka on August 27.
With few obvious holes to fill in the likely XI for the first Test, it is yet to be seen who will take the place of dumped tweaker Steve OKeefe. Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar would appear to be best-placed after taking four wickets on the final day of the intra-squad match. Uncapped legspinner Mitchell Swepson a late addition to the squad struggled in comparison with figures of 0-94 and 0-34.
But Lehmann declined to say whether Agar was in the box seat to partner Nathan Lyon as the second spin option.
He bowled beautifully today, Lehmann said.
Obviously hes on tour, so youd have to look at that, and obviously Swepsons there.
I thought (Jon) Holland bowled really
well today as well, so were starting to get some depth in our spinning department which is important.
The performance of left-arm spinner Holland who was overlooked for the tours of Bangladesh and India despite his outstanding form in the Sheffield Shield will also give selectors cause for thought beyond the Bangladesh tour. The forgotten Victorian ripped through the David Warner XI middle order on Wednesday to finish with figures of 4-1.
Obviously we know hes a quality bowler, Lehmann said.
At the end of the day, you can only pick 14.
He did his selection (chances) no harm at all, obviously moving forward, so really pleased for him and his wickets this morning.
The Australian squad will depart for Dhaka on Friday.
