Australia’s cricket team has welcomed back three big guns, including Test skipper Pat Cummins from injury, in a full strength 15-man squad to face South Africa in the World Test Championship final next month.
Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green are back in the fold.
Green is in line to play his first Test in more than a year after recovering from back surgery, but the allrounder is only in contention as a batter.
After missing out on selection for both Tests in Sri Lanka, whiz kid Sam Konstas has been named.
Sam Konstas bats. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Travis Head was preferred as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner for that successful tour, but the reigning Allan Border Medallist will slot back into No.5 for the WTC final.
Konstas produced an eye-catching Test debut on Boxing Day, taking it up to Indian maestro Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia face selection dilemmas at the top, particularly if they elect to pick Green in the middle order.
Marnus Labuschagne, who has been below his best for more than two years, is an option to open with Khawaja.
That would mean Steve Smith, who has recaptured his best, could move up to No.3, then Green bats at No.4.
In Green’s most recent Test back in March 2024, the towering West Australian batted at No.4, while Smith opened.
Star quicks Cummins and Hazlewood both missed the tour of Sri Lanka, but were fit and firing in the Indian Premier League.
“We are fortunate and looking forward to having Pat (Cummins), Josh (Hazlewood) and Cam (Green) back in the squad,” said selection chief George Bailey in a statement.
“The team finished the WTC cycle with an impressive series victory in Sri Lanka following an equally strong summer in defeating India for the first time in a decade.
“Those series capped a consistent performance across the two-year cycle and now presents us with the incredibly exciting opportunity to defend the World Test Championship.
“It means a lot to the group to reach the final and they are very much looking forward to the challenge South Africa will present at Lord’s.”
The squad will remain the same for the Test tour of the West Indies following the WTC final which will be played on June 11-15.
AUSTRALIA
Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club) (c)
Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club)
Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)
Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Usman Khawaja (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club)
Sam Konstas (NSW/Sutherland District Cricket Club)
Matt Kuhnemann (TAS/Clarence Cricket Club)
Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)
Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club)
Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)
Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)
Beau Webster (TAS/Kingborough Cricket Club)
*Travelling reserve:* Brendan Doggett (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)