Six that missed out on India squad

Any national squad announcement is likely to leave some jubilant and others disappointed and Australia's Test squad for their tour of India was no exception.

Quick Single: Australia name Test squad for India

Squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Leg-spinner Mitch Swepson was the bolter in the 16-man squad while Ashton Agar, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh all earnt recalls after varying lengths of time out of the Test side.

But the likes of incumbent No.6 Hilton Cartwright, batsman Travis Head and wrist-spinner Adam Zampa all missed out.

Quick Single: Hohns explains India Test squad decisions

Below, we take a look at six players who may have considered themselves unlucky to miss out.

Hilton Cartwright

2016-17 first-class record:

M: 5 | Runs: 330| Ave: 36.67 | 100s: 0 | HS: 84

W: 4 | Ave: 75.75| BB 2-38

Test matches in Asia: N/A

The Western Australian was a surprise choice to make his Test debut in the final match of the summer against Pakistan and looked the part in his 37 at No.6. But selectors have chosen to discard Cartwright after a solitary Test, deeming Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh to be better suited to making an impact in India. While skipper Steve Smith said Cartwright had picked up a yard of pace before his international debut, Hohns ultimately said the panel wanted to take a bowling allrounder to India and suggested Marsh’ seamers would pose a greater threat than Cartwright’s.

Adam Zampa

2016-17 first-class record: M: 3 | Wickets: 9 | Ave: 47.88 | Best-bowling: 4-141

Test matches in Asia: N/A

While he hasn’t set the world on fire in first-class cricket, Zampa firmed as a contender for the India Test squad on the back of impressive limited-overs showings for Australia. The leg-spinner thrived on both one-day international and T20 cricket in recent times and has proven experience on the subcontinent. He was a shining light during Australia’s World T20 campaign and his subsequent Indian Premier League stint with Pune (where Australia incidentally kick off their Test tour on February 23) was also productive, snaring 12 wickets in just five games. But NSP chairman Trevor Hohns said while they considered selecting Zampa, the panel instead opted for Swepson as they viewed him as a great wicket-taking threat.

Chris Tremain

2016-17 first-class record: M: 5 | Wickets: 27 | Ave: 17.55 | Best-bowling: 4-22

Test matches in Asia: N/A

A slingy right-arm quick, Tremain was selected for his international debut on Australia’s ODI tour of South Africa in October on the back of a breakout Sheffield Shield season in 2015-16. His 36 wickets last summer came at 21.05 last year and, sitting on 27 scalps 17.55 at halfway point of this Shield season, he looks on track to better that performance. His inclusion in the Test squad was flagged by by Mike Hussey, who suggested his ability to regularly hit speeds in excess of 140 kph could count in his favour. But in the end, the selection panel went for just the three frontline fast-bowlers, with Jackson Bird picked alongside pace duo Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Jon Holland

2016-17 first-class record: M: 5 | Wickets: 27 | Ave: 17.55 | Best-bowling: 4-22

Test matches in Asia: M: 2 | Wickets: 5 | Ave: 54.80| Best-bowling: 2/72

The left-arm orthodox spinner made his Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year in Sri Lanka following an injury to Stephen O’Keefe. Holland would certainly have figured in discussions for the India tour had he not suffered an untimely injury of his own in Victoria’s last Sheffield Shield game of 2016. It’s an unfortunate blow for the 29-year-old, whose 27 wickets in five Shield games this summer has him as the competition’s standout bowler at its halfway point.

Fawad Ahmed

2016-17 first-class record: N/A

Test matches in Asia: N/A