Australia announce squad for first Test against India, Michael Clarke and Ryan Harris included
Cricket Australia (CA) have named a 12-man squad to face India in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, starting on December 4. Captain Michael Clarke has been included despite major doubts over his fitness, having missed Australia's successful ODI series against South Africa due to a hamstring injury.
Also included in the squad is fast bowler Ryan Harris. The Queenslander, who is ranked 2nd on the ICC Test rankings for bowlers, returns having played his last international match back in March against South Africa. Harris played a crucial role back then, in setting up a famous Test series victory for the Australians in South Africa. The win had briefly taken the Clarke-led team to the top of the Test rankings.
The 35-year-old boasts of an incredible Test record, averaging 22.56 with the ball in the 24 Tests he has played. He had picked up 6 wickets in the 2 Tests he had played in, against India back in the 2011-12 Border-Gavaskar series.
The Australian selectors have also given an opportunity to 23-year-old Josh Hazlewood, who impressed in the ODI series against South Africa. This is the first time that he has been selected in the Test squad for the men from down under.
Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner, Alex Doolan and Ben Hilfenhaus have been left out from the squad that toured the UAE to face Pakistan last month. All-rounder Shane Watson makes a return to the Test team after missing that series, where the Aussies looked clueless against spin.
Squad: Michael Clarke (c), Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.