Australia vs South Africa: Agar and Renshaw called up to replace injured Green and Starc for third Test

Green
and
Starc
both
sustained
finger
injuries
in
the
second
Test
against
the
Proteas
at
the
MCG,
which
concluded
on
Thursday
(December
29)
with
victory
by
an
innings
and
182
runs,
ruling
them
out
of
the
final
game
starting
on
Wednesday
(January
4).

Josh
Hazlewood
is
available
for
selection
after
missing
the
last
three
Tests
with
a
side
strain,
meaning
he
is
likely
to
come
into
the
side
as
a
direct
replacement
for
Starc.

Agar,
who
memorably
made
98
on
his
Test
debut
in
the
2013
Ashes,
looms
as
the
probable
replacement
for
all-rounder
Green,
with
Australian
selectors
eager
to
add
a
spinning
option
alongside
Nathan
Lyon
at
the
SCG.

“Ashton
offers
a
second
spin
option
should
the
Sydney
pitch
be
conducive
to
turn,
as
it
has
done
in
the
past,”
selector
Tony
Dodemaide
said.
“He
also
brings
a
solid
batting
component.

“Matthew
is
included
as
a
versatile
batting
option
who
is
in
good
form,
including
an
unbeaten
century
in
the
recent
PM’s
XI
tour
match
against
the
West
Indies.

“In
terms
of
fast
bowlers,
it’s
a
blessing
to
have
Josh
[Hazlewood]
returning
while
Lance
[Morris]
offers
a
genuine
point
of
difference
with
his
raw
pace
and
skill.

“This
squad
will
cover
all
bases
for
when
we
get
to
Sydney
and
assess
the
conditions
closer
to
the
Test
match.”

Left-arm
orthodox
spinner
Agar
has
played
four
Tests,
the
last
coming
in
2017,
taking
nine
wickets
and
scoring
195
runs.

Renshaw,
who
last
played
a
Test
in
2018,
has
scored
310
runs
in
eight
innings
for
Queensland
in
the
Sheffield
Shield
this
season.

Cricket
Australia
confirmed
Starc
is
unavailable
with
a
small
fracture
to
his
left
middle
finger,
while
Green
is
out
with
a
fracture
to
his
right
index
finger.

Australia
have
an
unassailable
2-0
lead
in
the
three-game
Test
series.

Australia
squad:
Pat
Cummins
(captain),
Ashton
Agar,
Scott
Boland,
Alex
Carey,
Marcus
Harris,
Josh
Hazlewood,
Travis
Head,
Usman
Khawaja,
Marnus
Labuschagne,
Nathan
Lyon,
Lance
Morris,
Matthew
Renshaw,
Steve
Smith,
David
Warner.

SQUAD
UPDATE:
Matthew
Renshaw
and
Ashton
Agar
have
been
added
to
the
squad
for
the
third
NRMA
Insurance
Test
match
against
South
Africa
in
Sydney,
in
replacement
of
the
injured
Mitchell
Starc
and
Cameron
Green

pic.twitter.com/EaReG3jQT2

—
Cricket
Australia
(@CricketAus)

December
30,
2022