The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is to be played between India and Australia from November 22. The first match of the series will be played in Perth, for which a 13-member team has been announced by Cricket Australia. Australia has just announced the team for the first Test, which includes a big surprise for Team India.
In fact, before the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a series of two unofficial Test matches was played between India-A and Australia-A. In the series, Australia-A whitewashed India-A 2-0. Opener Nathan McSweeney, who scored the most runs for Australia-A in this series, has been given a place in the team for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to be held in Perth. This is a gift for McSweeney and a surprise for Team India.
Nathan McSweeney scored 166 runs in four innings of two unofficial Tests against India-A at an average of 55.33. Nathan McSweeney may be given the responsibility of opening in place of David Warner. After Warner’s retirement, Australia has not been able to find a permanent opener yet.
Chief selector George Bailey told the reason for choosing McSweeney
Australia’s chief selector George Bailey had already made it clear that Steve Smith will be seen in his old batting order. On the reason for selecting Nathan McSweeney, George Bailey said, “McSweeney recently showed that he can score runs. He was included in the team due to his excellent domestic records. He has scored a lot of runs for South Australia and Australia-A.
Other players got a place
Apart from this, fast bowler Scott Boland, who is a part of Australia-A, has also been included in the team. Boland is a bowler who has played all three formats for Australia. The rest of the Australia team captained by Pat Cummins includes most of the main players, who have been part of the Test team for some time.
Australia’s team for the first Test
Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.
