Australia announce Squad for India Test series, Uncapped spinner Todd Murphy included

Australia
will
be
travelling
to
India
for
the
four-match
series
and
have
picked
up
their
18-man
squad
for
the
tour.
Both
countries
are
currently
occupying
the
top
two
spots
in
the
WTC
2021-23
cycle.

The
Baggy
Greens
have
also
named
Mitchell
Starc
in
the
squad,
but
it
looks
likely
that
the
pacer
will
miss
at
least
the
first
match.
Starc
is
recovering
from
a
tendon
injury
on
his
left
index
finger,
as
the
player
missed
the
final
Test
against
South
Africa
in
the
recently
concluded
series.

Uncapped
pacer
Lance
Morris
is
also
included
in
the
squad,
while
Scott
Boland
also
retains
his
place.

The
Australian
chief
selector
George
Bailey
explained
his
decision
of
picking
four
spinners
in
the
Test
series.
Along
with
Nathan
Lyon
and
Todd
Murphy,
spinners
Mitchell
Swepson
and
Ashton
Agar
have
also
made
it
to
the
team
as
the
visitors
look
to
cover
all
areas
to
counter
varying
conditions
in
India.

“Ashton
Agar
continues
to
impress
following
his
comeback
in
Sydney
and
we
believe
left-arm
finger
spin
will
play
an
important
role
in
Indian
conditions.
Mitchell
Swepson
has
recent
Test
experience
in
the
sub-continent
and
offers
leg-spinning
variety,”
Bailey
said.

“Todd
Murphy
has
progressed
quickly
having
impressed
in
domestic
cricket
and
recently
with
Australia
A.
With
those
performances
Todd
has
emerged
as
a
strong
spin
option,”
he
added.

Peter
Handscomb,
who
was
recalled
into
the
Aussie
squad
for
the
Sydney
Test
against
the
Proteas,
will
be
travelling
to
India.
And
Bailey
says
Handscomb
deserves
a
chance
for
his
domestic
performances
and
ability
to
handle
spin
well,
which
can
be
pivotal
in
the
subcontinent.

Pat
Cummins
is
set
to
lead
the
side
as
they
will
be
looking
to
end
their
dismal
run
in
India.
Australia
have
had
a
torrid
time
against
India
in
Test
cricket
in
the
recent
past.
Since
the
2004-05
season,
they
haven’t
won
a
Test
series
in
India,
losing
four
consecutive
series
in
the
travel.
They
have
also
lost
the
last
two
Test
series
against
India
even
in
their
own
backyard.

The
four-match
Test
series
starts
on
February
9
in
Nagpur.

Australia
Full
Squad
vs
India:

Pat
Cummins
(C),
Ashton
Agar,
Scott
Boland,
Alex
Carey,
Cameron
Green,
Josh
Hazlewood,
Peter
Handscomb,
Travis
Head,
Usman
Khawaja,
Marnus
Labuschagne,
Nathan
Lyon,
Lance
Morris,
Todd
Murphy,
Matthew
Renshaw,
Steve
Smith
(VC),
Mitchell
Starc,
Mitchell
Swepson,
David
Warner