Australia name squad for Bangladesh tour
Two rookies in 15-man Test team
AFP
AFP, SYDNEY: Australia sprang a surprise on Monday when they called up uncapped paceman Andrew Fekete, 30, for next months Test tour of Bangladesh as part of a major shake-up following a number of retirements. Debutant top-order batsman Cameron Bancroft, 22, also gets the nod in a 15-man squad captained by Steve Smith as Australia grapple with wholesale changes.
Ex-skipper Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson have all retired as Australia lost the Ashes Test tour but won the one-day series against England 3-2. Quicks Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood are both rested after a heavy recent workload, while opening batsman David Warner and leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed are injured. Joe Burns, Patrick Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell and Stephen OKeefe are all recalled for the two Tests in Chittagong and Dhaka.
The retirements ... as well as issues of injury, form and conditions have brought about a major change in the profile of the touring party from the one that toured the British Isles, said national selector Rodney Marsh. But with that change comes a fantastic opportunity for all the players going to Bangladesh.
West Australian Bancroft scored 896 first-class runs last season while Fekete took 37 wickets more than any other fast bowler in domestic cricket.
Johnson and Hazlewood were expected to return to the side for the first home Test of the season, against New Zealand in November. Australia are due to depart September 28 to arrive for a tour match in Fatullah from Oct 3-5. The two Tests will take place in Chittagong (Oct 9-13) and the capital (Oct 17-21).
Australia squad: Steve Smith (C), Adam Voges, Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Patrick Cummins, Andrew Fekete, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Stephen OKeefe, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc.
