Australia A announce playing XI for 4-day game vs India A, 2 batters to audition for Labuschagne's position

Australia A on September 21 announced their playing XI for the first four-day game (unofficial Test) against India A in Puducherry which will begin on September 22. Peter Handscomb will lead the squad ahead of Nathan McSweeney as players audition for a spot in Australian senior squad for next year's Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Indian soil.

With Marnus Labuschagne’s place for India tour hinging on how he performs on South Africa tour, Handscomb and McSweeney will be auditioning for the top-order role. Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway will also look to make a name as opener, months ahead of BGT 2027. Konstas was dropped from Test squad after West Indies tour whereas Kellaway is yet to make his Test debut.

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"Pete (Handscomb) is one of the best players of spin in Australia. It is a great thing for him, it shows even at his age he is in contention. Acclimatising to these conditions will be good for him if and when he does come back,” head coach Tim Paine said on the eve of the game.

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Among spinners, Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli will audition to share the old ball alongside veteran Nathan Lyon next year. Murphy has played the role before whereas Rocchiccioli had performed on Australia A’s previous tour of India as well. 

Australia A’s Playing XI vs India A -

Sam Konstas, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Peter Handscomb (c), Jason Sangha, Josh Philippe (wk), Liam Scott, Fergus O’Neill, Todd Murphy, Corey Rocchiccioli, Brendan Doggett.

Edwards out of the red-ball series

Jack Edwards has been pulled out of the four-day series against India A as he has been called up to the ODI squad on South Africa tour in the absence of an injured Billy Stanlake.

Sai Sudharsan’s comeback

The series will mark the comeback of Sai Sudharsan after an injury ruled him out of Test series against Sri Lanka. An in-form Devdutt Padikkal will lead India A. The other Test player in the squad is Anshul Kamboj. 

India A’s squad vs Australia A

Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (c), Sai Sudharsan (vc), Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan (wk), Nachiket Bhute, Tripurana Vijay.