YOUNG TEARAWAY TO TORMENT KIWIS
THE rapid rise of Spencer Johnson has continued, with the young fast bowler selected for an Australia A squad set for a pre-Ashes tune-up in New Zealand.
After a stunning Big Bash League entry and back-to-back five-wicket hauls for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, left-armer Johnson and Victorian young gun Mitch Perry are among a youth-filled squad set to use Dukes balls in two four-day games against the New Zealand A team. As preparation for a likely trip to England for the Ashes, Peter Handscomb and Matt Renshaw, both in India, will also be in the squad.
Leg-spinner Mitch Swepson, who didn’t get a game during the four-Test series on the subcontinent, will also play as part of a group with nine of its 14 players aged under 26. Johnson has been in blistering form, taking 15 wickets at 13.06 in his first two Shield appearances this season, while Perry has claimed 19 wickets from his past three matches. “The squad contains some experienced, strong performers in state cricket, along with several emerging players we believe have exciting futures ahead of them,” national selection chief George Bailey said.
The squad will play New Zealand A in Lincoln with the Dukes ball and in conditions designed to replicate those found in England.
Queensland keeper Jimmy Pierson is also in the squad, with 20-year-old Victorian batter Campbell Kellaway at the other end of the age spectrum, along with West Australian Teague Wylie.
Squad: Wes Agar, Xavier Bartlett, Aaron Hardie, Peter Handscomb, Spencer Johnson, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Joel Paris, Mitch Perry, Jimmy Pierson, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Tim Ward, Teague Wyllie.