Ashton Agar in action© Twitter
Australia has named edge spinners Ashton Agar and Todd Murphy in the Prime Minister’s XI squad for the four-day tour match against the West Indies, bearing in mind next year’s tour of India. Australia is scheduled to play four Tests and three ODIs on their tour of India in February-March next year. Left arm spinner Agar, who last played a test in 2017, is coming back from a side injury. He has nine wickets from four Tests. From 61 first-class matches, the 29-year-old has an overall average of 41.28 and a standout score of 80.7.
In contrast, uncapped 21-year-old off-spinner Murphy has 18 wickets from four first-class matches at an average of 30.44.
The selection committee chair, George Bailey, said they are looking at different options for the India tour compared to the selection for the home tests against the West Indies and South Africa.
“I would think the tour to India would have a different name than the (Australian) summer tour, just because of the circumstances,” Bailey told ESPNCricinfo.
“There’s every chance to be very different. Because it’s an away tour you take a slightly bigger squad anyway. Plus it’s at the back of a (home) summer and there’s a fair amount of cricket that would be by then played.” Middle batter Peter Handscomb, who has been on top form lately, could also be on the bill again.
“Pete definitely remains on our radar,” Bailey said.
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“He was selected on the Australia A tour to Sri Lanka in the winter, (but missed it because of) having a baby at the same time. He’s had a fantastic start to the season and finished off the last Shield year fantastic.” The PM XI’s game kicks off on November 23 and will be the West Indies’ warm-up ahead of their two-test series against Australia, which begins in Perth on November 30.
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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