AUSTRALIA SQUADS

Jhye Richardson gets surprise call-up for South Africa Tests

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Richardson made his ODI debut in the ongoing series against England. © Getty

Australia have made a couple of surprise call-ups to the national squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, including Western Australia pacer Jhye Richardson and slow left-armer Jon Holland.

Holland has featured in only two Tests for Australia, when the side toured Sri Lanka in 2016. While Australia were whitewashed by the hosts in that series, Holland's returns on the spin-friendly conditions weren't impressive either. The left-armer managed to bag only five wickets from two games - averaging over 54.

Richardson, on the other hand, is yet to get his Test cap. He made his international debut against Sri Lanka in a T20I series last year when Australia were forced to field a second-string side. The 21-year old pacer was handed his ODI debut in the ongoing series against England. A product of the Australia Under-19 side, the youngster has been fast-tracked into the national set-up at the back of a lot of promise. He has featured in only five first-class games, picking up 21 wickets for Western Australia.

The rest of the 15-member touring squad for the four-match series bears a predictable look, with the three-man pace attack Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to give company to Nathan Lyon. Holland is the only other frontline spinner in the side, while the pace unit is backed by the services of Jackson Bird and Richardson, apart from all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

Fresh from a 4-0 drubbing of England at home in the Ashes, Australia are expected to face a more daunting challenge away from home against an in-form South African side. After playing a three-day warm-up game against South African Invitational XI, Australia will begin the series at Kingsmead in Durban on March 1. They will go on to play in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith has been rested as the Australian selectors went on to pick a 14-member T20I squad for the upcoming tri-series, also featuring New Zealand and England. In his absence, Australia will be led by David Warner. Finch, who has previously led Australia in the shortest format, has been appointed as Warner's deputy for the T20Is.

While the limited-overs regulars like Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis and Travis Head also find a place in the side, the rest of the squad is relatively inexperienced.

Test Squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Jon Holland, Jhye Richardson.

T20I Squad: David Warner (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

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