(Reuters) – Australia’s Twenty20 captain Mitchell Marsh and his test teammates will skip the three matches against Pakistan in November as they prepare for the blockbuster series against India in the longest format of the game.
None of Australia’s test regulars were included in the squad for the matches in Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart when it was announced.
Cricket Australia, however, said some players selected could join the test squad for the series opener against India in Perth after the final T20 at Bellerive Oval on Nov. 18.
That would be welcome news for the likes of Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, who might still have some hopes of a test call-up to fill the vacant batting spot left open by the season-ending injury to all-rounder Cameron Green.
Seamers Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson all return to the squad after injuries sustained before or during the white-ball tour of England and Scotland in September.
“It is particularly encouraging to have Xavier, Spencer and Nathan back in the national setup,” said head selector George Bailey.
“It’s another opportunity for them to continue to show their ability on the international stage, as they have done in the past.”
Australia squad: Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa.
