Selectors fulfil mandate for Test squad revamp

The sweeping changes made to Australia’s Test squad by a similarly rejigged selection panel are as much about bringing a longer-term change in direction as delivering an immediate halt to the team’s losing streak.

Quick Single: Australia make big changes for Adelaide Test

Trevor Hohns, interim chair of the National Selection Panel following last week’s resignation of his predecessor Rod Marsh, cited the mandate handed to his group to "revamp our team" as the catalyst for the radical decision to name six new players in the 12-man squad for the third Commonwealth Bank Test at Adelaide Oval starting Thursday.

A decree that came from within the panel – which now includes former Test captain Greg Chappell as well as incumbent coach Darren Lehmann and Mark Waugh – with the imprimatur of Cricket Australia’s decision makers and in consultation with exasperated skipper Steve Smith.

"This panel, with the support of our (Cricket Australia) administrators decided to revamp our team taking into account form, ability and/or potential to perform at Test level," Hohns said in Adelaide this afternoon in confirming the 12-man squad for the day-night Test match.

"We see this as a very exciting challenge for everybody concerned.

"I’m not for one minute going to suggest an immediate turnaround.

"Patience will be required, but we are obviously hopeful that these players can gel together and ultimately stop the downward losing momentum we are currently experiencing.

"We need everyone to get behind these blokes, to encourage and help them in what is going to be a very testing time for them.

"The captain (Smith) has been thoroughly canvassed and informed of our intentions re the selection of this team.

"His opinion is always asked for and, of course, regarded very highly in our discussions."

While Hohns - who previously served as a national selector from 1993-2006 including a decade as chairman - declined to be drawn on how many matches the new-look team would be given to reverse the current five-match losing run, he confirmed that the naming of young players fitted the panel’s aim to "get together a unit of players that can take us forward for the future for some time".

Quick Single: Renshaw's amazing journey to the Baggy Green

As a consequence, incumbent batters Adam Voges (aged 37), Callum Ferguson (31) and Joe Burns (27) have been replaced by 23-year-old Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw, 25-year-old sometime-keeper-batsman Peter Handscomb and 23-year-old surprise selection Nic Maddinson.

While many expected Maddinson’s even younger New South Wales teammate Kurtis Patterson to receive a call-up on the basis of his stronger recent Sheffield Shield returns, Hohns confirmed that Maddinson’s selection was something of an 'instinct' call.

"We see him (Maddinson) as a player of enormous potential," Hohns said of the naturally attacking left-hander who has played two T20 Internationals for Australia and was seen by many as more of a white-ball specialist.

"He is definitely a game breaker and if we can get the best out of him at that (Test) level as I think we can, he could be a very, very important player for us down the track.

"Sometimes you do of course go with your gut, as they say.

"It’s all very well looking at statistics all the time but sometimes, particularly right now, we were asked to go with some players."

Quick Single: Handscomb completes road to the top

Hohns also confirmed that Voges was unavailable for selection due to the concussion he sustained batting in Perth last week, although it was widely expected he would not have survived the selection cull even if fully fit.

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh (shoulder) and left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe (slight calf strain) were also not considered on fitness grounds, with the selectors claiming they were not prepared to risk a bowler (O’Keefe) who was not 100 per cent fit.

Others to have felt the axe were wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and South Australia seamer Joe Mennie, who surrendered his place after his debut Test to his West Ends Redbacks teammate and fellow pace bowler Chadd Sayers.

Hohns said the decision, made by the four-man panel when they met together in Adelaide on Saturday evening, to recall Matthew Wade in place of Nevill was made largely on the strength of the Victorian captain’s superior Test batting record.

With an acknowledgment that Wade was, in the past, not the tidiest Test ‘keeper Australia has fielded and a nod to the fact Wade’s combative on-field person was another persuasive reason for change behind the stumps.

"He (Wade) is obviously seen as a tough competitor, and that is what we're looking for in our players now," Hohns said.

"And we want them to get out there now and have a fair crack at this.

"(Nevill was) very unlucky, there's no doubt about that, but we consider Matthew Wade's wicketkeeping has improved to the extent that we've gone in that direction.

"There's no secret Matthew Wade's batting is very, very good - in fact, he's scored (two) hundreds in Test cricket."

Hohns said it was "possible" that Australia might go into the pink ball Test with four specialist seamers in light of Sayers' outstanding recent record at Adelaide Oval, which might mean Lyon would be left out of the starting XI.

And that the team might feature four Test debutants for the first time in almost 40 years.

But with the absence of an allrounder and the prospect of the Adelaide Oval pitch proving less conducive to seam bowling than in last year’s historic first day-night Test, it would represent a big call and one that won’t be finalised until much closer to starting time on Thursday afternoon.

"Nathan, as we all know, has over 200 Test wickets," Hohns said of Lyon’s much-discussed form.

"He’s our best off-spinner that we’ve had ever, so it might not be that he’s not taking wickets at the moment but there’s no indication that he’s bowling poorly."

The decision to axe Ferguson (4 runs in two innings) and Mennie (1-85 from his only bowling innings) after just one Test to prove their worth was a tough call, Hohns acknowledged.

But he pointed out that Ferguson had an opportunity to shore up his place by making a significant score in the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland that finished today, but posted totals of 4 and 4 while others in line for a berth made the most of their chance.

"We were given the charter to revamp the Test match side," Hohns explained.

"Sure it may sound harsh, but Callum - like all of our players, except for our bowlers - went back to Sheffield Shield cricket and had their opportunity to press their claims for inclusion in this side.

"Some have, some haven’t and I would suggest that Callum is not discarded by any means.

"We would love Callum to continue to score a lot of runs and belt the door down and demand selection again.

"All we can do is give people the opportunity, and it really is up to them to take it.

"An opportunity is an opportunity to play for your country, and we do expect them to take it eventually after a period of time.

"What that period of time is, is completely up to us and at our discretion."

MEET AUSTRALIA'S FOUR NEW FACES

• Matt Renshaw. 20. Left-hander, averages 41 from 11 first-class games with two centuries. Yorkshire-born, moved to New Zealand aged seven, then Australia age 11. Queensland's leading Sheffield Shield run-scorer last season.
• Nic Maddinson. 24. Left-hander, averages 38 from 58 first-class games for NSW. Played two Twenty20 games for Australia in 2013. Has made two tons and an 86 in domestic cricket this season.
• Peter Handscomb. 25. Right-handed Victorian averaging a tick over 40 from 61 first-class games, nine centuries. Son of British parents, holds a British passport but has been in Australia's system since under 19s.
• Chadd Sayers. 29. Medium-fast bowler in the Alderman mould. Has taken 184 wickets at 23.80 in 46 first-class matches. Renowned for making the ball swing at Adelaide Oval.