David Warner retained in Australia squad for first two Ashes Tests and World Test Championship final | Cricket News
English-born wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will be eyeing a Test debut while opener David Warner has retained his spot in Australia’s initial squad for this summer’s Ashes.
Pat Cummins will lead the 17-man squad with Steve Smith as his deputy, while opener Marcus Harris, all-rounder Mitch Marsh and Inglis are recalled.
The squad covers the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval on June 7-11 and the opening two Ashes Tests, starting at Edgbaston on Friday, June 16.
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Chris Woakes says he is hopeful of an England call-up for the Ashes and says he has been in contact with Test captain, Ben Stokes, to find out if he needs to change how he plays to boost his chances of being picked
Peter Handscomb and spinners Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson and Matt Kuhnemann have been left out from the squad which toured India, but Warner retains his place despite a run of low scores.
Chairman of selectors George Bailey said: “Not specifically to Dave, but I think we’ll get through that Test championship, obviously we’re planning behind the scenes, but have a look at what that looks like when we get there, different opposition and different surface in terms of going to The Oval to start the Ashes so we’ll work through that.
“We see value in revisiting the squad following the second Ashes Test, given the short turnaround between the WTC final and the first Ashes Test, along with the length of the tour.
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England’s all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson says it will be a big ask on his body to be able to play all five Ashes Tests against Australia this summer
“The way we are looking at that is the culmination of what’s been a pretty consistent two years for a bunch of guys, which fundamentally has been a similar team for a long period of time so we are confident that’s a team and that’s a makeup that can have success.”
He said the Australian approach to “Bazball” – the brand of attacking cricket which has seen England flourish since the appointment of coach Brendon McCullum last year – would be decided by the coaches and player.
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Ollie Pope says that there’s a real excitement around the England team for this summer’s Ashes series
“I’m not sure we have feared teams in the past, clearly they are playing some really good cricket so we will deal with that as you do with any team when you get there, but I think our focus will be primarily on the way that we want to play,” he said.
The Australian selectors are leaving room to make changes to the squad if needed after the second Ashes Test with several Australian players playing county cricket.
“The UK is a very different assignment from our most recent tour of India and some of the changes are based upon the conditions we are anticipating,” he said.
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Mitchell Starc admits he can’t wait to take part in this year’s Ashes for Australia against England
Full squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith (vice-captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
When is the Ashes?
The Ashes will take place in June and July this year, with Edgbaston the venue for the opening Test from June 16-20 ahead of the series moving onto Lord’s from June 28-July 2.
Headingley, the scene of Ben Stokes’ 2019 heroics, hosts the third Test from July 6-10, before the series finishes at Emirates Old Trafford (July 19-23) and The Kia Oval (July 27-31).
