south australia left arm fast Spencer Johnson Australia’s Ashes have come on the radar after being named in a 14-man Australia A squad to tour New Zealand in April, with long-term Test hopes taking into account of the current Test squad members and England’s mid-year tour .
peter handscombWho is currently in Australia’s Test XI in India, as well as a member of the Indian team Matt Renshaw And Michelle Swepsonwere named but there were some notable absentees as Australia’s selectors recently opted to allow some representatives from Australia A and Tests to travel to England as part of their Ashes bid to play in the County Championship, instead of two To opt out of county deals to play. Four day games in Lincoln with Duke balls in the first two weeks of April.
The 26-year-old Johnson has come under the selectors’ radar since starring in his debut BBL season for Brisbane Heat. He has since made his Sheffield Shield debut for South Australia and taken 6/87 and 7/47 in his first two first-class matches. young victoria seamer michelle perry He has also been rewarded for his excellent form with 19 wickets in his last three Shield matches. Johnson and Perry are part of a line-up of seam bowlers in the A team including Wes Agar, Xavier Bartlett and Joel Paris, while Swepson is the only spinner not to play the Tests on the tour of India. Leading Shield wicket-takers Michael Neser and Mark Steketee have not been selected for Australia A as both already have extensive experience playing in England.
The same thinking applies to the leading Shield runscorer cameron bancroft and fringe test opener Marcus Harris The two, who both played in the 2019 Ashes series and remain in the selectors’ Ashes, are discussing what could be Australia’s best opening combination in England. Bancroft has been in career-best form, scoring four Shield centuries this season and six in the past 12 months, as well as scoring runs in limited-overs cricket for WA and the Perth Scorchers. But he has already played 34 first-class matches in five different seasons in England. Harris has also scored two Shield hundreds this season and is set to return to Gloucestershire in early April having scored seven first-class centuries in England. Another opener from West Australia Sam WhitemanThe man who was the player of the match in last year’s Shield final has also not been selected as he has signed up to play the entire county season. with Northamptonshire,
tasmanian left hander Tim Ward With Renshaw set to open for Australia A in New Zealand, South Australia’s Henry Hunt was not selected, despite being an Australia A regular in recent years and scoring a century on last year’s tour of Sri Lanka. WA allrounder Aaron Hardy Has been named to tour Sri Lanka with Australia A last year.
The selectors have also taken a long-term view of the 18-year-old West Australian with the batting group teag wylie20 year old Victoria is left handed Campbell Callaway and 24-year-old South Australian batsman Nathan McSweeney was selected for the tour to learn from the experience of Handscomb and Renshaw.
Experienced Queensland wicketkeeper Jimmy Pearson Has been rewarded for his fine form at Shield level by being named as the lone wicket-keeper in the squad for Australia A on their tour of Sri Lanka last year. Josh Inglis is touring India with Australia’s ODI team just ahead of the A series in New Zealand, but is still regarded as a Test prospect behind current Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Chairman of selectors George Bailey said it was an opportunity to expose a young group to different conditions.
“We are committed to the continued expansion of the Australia A program and these games have been specially designed to expose these players to conditions they may not experience in Australia,” Bailey said.
“With the Ashes this winter and a tour of New Zealand early next year, it is a great opportunity for this group to perform in an environment similar to those countries.
“Having Pete Handscomb, Matt Renshaw, Mitch Swepson and Jimmy Pierson will add experience as senior players who can provide their knowledge of different situations.”
The Australia A team will be coached by current Australia assistant Andre Borovec. Former Sri Lankan Test batsman Thilan Samaraweera will also tour as batting consultant with Scott Prestwij overseeing the bowling group, who was part of the coaching staff with Australia’s women’s team during their recent World Cup triumph in South Africa.
New Zealand’s tour will also be changed in September this year with Australia hosting New Zealand A for two four-day games and three 50-over matches to be played in Australia’s northern states.
Australia A squad for New Zealand tour: Wes Agar, Xavier Bartlett, Aaron Hardie, Peter Handscomb, Spencer Johnson, Campbell Callaway, Nathan McSweeney, Joel Paris, Mitch Perry, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Tim Ward, Teague Willey