Australia name 17-man squad for India Tests; Will Pucovski, Cameron Green called up

Australia have called up 22-year-old Will Pucovski and all-rounder Cameron Green for the four-match Test series against India, starting December 17. The former is in stupendous form, notching scores of 255* and 202 in the previous two games of the ongoing Sheffield Shield. He has also been named in the Australia A squad for the two warm-up matches against India.

In the Test series, he might get to open with David Warner. Joe Burns is the other specialist opener in the squad. Though Burns isn’t in the greatest of forms with scores of 7, 29, 0, 10 and 11 in the Shield games, a couple of decent outings in the practice games could see him edge out Pucovski as Warner’s opening partner for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia selector lauds Pucovski and Green

“What we saw in the opening rounds of the Marsh Sheffield Shield were a number of players performing exceptionally well. Two of those many standout players were, of course, Cameron Green and Will Pucovski.

“Their undeniable form demanded selection and we are very pleased to have these young men in the squad for what will be a tremendous Test Series against an extremely formidable opponent,” Trevor Hohns, the national selector, was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Green, on the other hand, started bowling after returning from a back injury. However, with the bat in hand, he plundered a career-best 197 against New South Wales. Earlier, he was also rewarded with a place in Australia’s white-ball squads for the India T20Is and ODIs.

“Cameron (Green) has already won selection in the white ball squad and continues that in joining the Test squad. He is a wonderful young talent who has great potential to become an all-rounder of substance over time,” he added.

Hohns also reckoned that Mitchell Swepson can be a handful “second spin option” to the very experienced Nathan Lyon. Australia have also named Sean Abbott and Michael Neser, who both are yet to make their Test debut. The hosts will be captained by Tim Paine with Pat Cummins as his deputy.

The opening game at the Adelaide Oval is a Day-Night affair followed by the ones in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Here’s the squad:

Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Tim Paine (c), James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner