New Delhi, September 1: Cricket Australia has announced the Australia A team for the upcoming series against India A, which includes two four-day matches and three One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Peter Handscomb has secured a spot in the Australia A team, providing him with another opportunity to revive his Test career. The squad also features Brendan Doggett and Jhye Richardson.
Australia A will head to Puducherry at the end of this month for the four-day matches, followed by three 50-over games. This series against India A presents several Australian players with a chance to secure a place in the senior team ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
At 35, Handscomb is the oldest and most experienced player in the four-day squad. The right-handed batsman has not played international cricket since participating in all four Tests during Australia’s last Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour in 2023, nor has he played for Australia A. With Australia returning to India in the coming months, this tour offers him a strong opportunity to make a case for his return to the senior team.
Australia is also assessing its fast-bowling options for subcontinental conditions, which could put a spotlight on Doggett and Richardson. Richardson has returned to first-class cricket after undergoing multiple significant shoulder surgeries, while Todd Murphy, Sam Constable, and Nathan McSweeney are among the nine players who returned from last year’s four-day matches in Lucknow with Australia A.
Young fast bowler Mahli Beardman is included in the ODI team alongside Spencer Johnson. Beardman is recovering from back pain but has already made an impact in white-ball cricket, taking two wickets on his T20 debut against Pakistan in Lahore in March.
Chief selector George Bailey stated, “We view this tour as a crucial part of our ongoing investment in the Australia A program, focusing on performance and game style development in subcontinental conditions. This is a strong representation of players who are in the running to be part of the group heading to India next year or who are likely to receive further opportunities in the future.”
Wicketkeeper Sam Harper has been rewarded for an outstanding domestic season, while Jason Sangha and Curtis Patterson have also been given chances. Notably absent from the selection is Marnus Labuschagne.
Australia A Four-Day Team: Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Constable, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Cory Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott.
Australia A ODI Team: Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardy, Spencer Johnson, Sam Constable, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw.