Australia announces squad for the day/night Test v New Zealand

Australia announces squad for the day/night Test v New Zealand: Australian duo of Shaun Marsh and James Pattinson has been called up to cover two enforced vacancies in the squad for the historic day/night 3rd Test match against New Zealand starting in Adelaide next week.

In addition to recalling Shaun Marsh for injured batsman Usman Khawaja and Pattinson as a replacement for retired fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, the national selection panel have added left-arm spinner Stephen O’Keefe to a 13-man squad in order to cover all facets.

Marsh averages 33.11 from 15 Tests and 38.5 in first-class cricket — and gets another lifeline after it was clearly visible that he may never play Test cricket again after his forgettable double-failure in the Trent Bridge Ashes Test.

Now if he gets to score a hundred or two before Usman Khawaja returns from injury on Boxing Day in two Tests time, it presents an interesting dilemma for selectors. Steve Smith will return to batting at No. 3, with Adam Voges likely to shift up a place and Marsh to bat at No.5.

“He (Marsh) was very close for first Test selection, it was touch and go with Usman and Shaun Marsh,” said coach Darren Lehmann. The historic day-night third Test match against New Zealand will be starting in Adelaide on 27th November.

Australia Test squad:

Steve Smith, David Warner, Joe Burns, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges