Aussies load up on spin for India

MELBOURNE: Australia have included the uncapped Mitchell Swepson and recalled Ashton Agar to a four-strong spin-bowling unit for the Test tour of India starting next month.

Leg spinner Swepson and left-arm orthodox spinner Agar, who played two Tests in England in 2013, join off spinner Nathan Lyon and leftie Steve O’Keefe in the 16-man party which will play four Tests in India.

Top order batsman Shaun Marsh and his all-rounder brother Mitchell were recalled after missing the recent series sweep of Pakistan, while another all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell, was also brought back in.

Jackson Bird was included as a third pace option alongside Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

“We don’t know what pitch conditions we will come up against in each of the venues but wanted to have flexibility and options available to us,” head selector Trevor Hohns told reporters.

“We know India is an incredibly tough place to tour and have success in ... but we have chosen a squad which we believe will work really hard in its endeavours to perform well and give a good account of itself in the sub-continent.”

Australia open their tour with the first Test in Pune on February 23 before Bangalore, Ranchi and Dharamsala.

Squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon, Stephen O’Keefe, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson.