Crisis-hit Australia make six changes for Adelaide Test
ADELAIDE: Crisis-hit Australia made six changes to their Test squad on Sunday for this week’s third day-night Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
Selectors named debutants English-born opener Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson in a 12-man squad with pacemen Chadd Sayers and Jackson Bird returning, and Matthew Wade coming in as wicketkeeper.
Australia last made as many as six changes in 1984, when they faced the then formidable West Indies.
Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Peter Nevill and Joe Mennie were omitted from the squad with interim chief selector Trevor Hohns saying that Voges, Mitch Marsh and Steve O’Keefe were not considered because of injury.
The dramatic team overhaul follows Australia’s innings and 80-run loss to the Proteas in last week’s Hobart Test to give the tourists an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
South Africa could inflict the first home series whitewash in Australian history if they win the pink ball final Test at the Adelaide Oval, starting on Thursday.
Queensland opener Renshaw, 20, was born in Yorkshire and lived in England before coming to Australia at the age of 10.
Victorian batsman Handscomb, 25, is also the holder of a British passport, but was born in Australia to English parents. Maddinson, 24, became the youngster player when he was 18 to score a century on Sheffield Shield debut for New South Wales in 2010 and has also represented Australia in Twenty20 cricket.
Sayers, a Adelaide Oval specialist, had been in Australia’s Test squad earlier this year but did not play a Test match in New Zealand.
Tasmania’s Jackson Bird and South Australia’s Sayers come into the squad as the additional fast-bowlers. AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Steve Smith (capt), Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
AUSTRALIA LAST MADE AS MANY AS SIX CHANGES IN 1984, WHEN THEY FACED THE THEN FORMIDABLE WEST INDIES.