Australia Name 16-Man Squad for WTC Final vs SA; Cameron Green Return

Australia has named a settled 16-man squad for next month’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord’s, with young gun Sam Konstas earning a recall and selectors reportedly set to make a bold call by opening with Marnus Labuschagne. The 16-man squad includes an uncapped player, who has been named as a travelling reserve.

WTC Final squad on expected lines for Australia

The squad, which will also tour the West Indies for a three-Test series in June and July, features the return of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Cameron Green. All three missed Australia’s recent tour of Sri Lanka, with Cummins away for the birth of his second child and the latter two recovering from injuries.

Konstas, 19, was part of the Sri Lanka tour earlier this year but did not feature in either Test. This is because Australia paired Usman Khawaja with Travis Head, who made full use of the new ball in the subcontinent. Now, Konstas is in line to resume his role at the top of the order — though with selectors reportedly preferring to push Labuschagne into an opener’s role, Konstas may again be on the fringes.

South Australian pacer Brendan Doggett, who claimed 33 wickets in the Sheffield Shield at 24.15, has been included as a travelling reserve. Second spinner Matt Kuhnemann also finds a place, as Australia look to cover all tactical bases. While he’s unlikely to play against South Africa, the left-arm spinner could be useful on the Caribbean pitches.

There was no room for Nathan McSweeney or Sean Abbott, while the inclusion of Beau Webster hints at a potential all-rounder showdown with Green, depending on the Lord’s conditions.

Australia Test Squad for WTC Final

Australia’s Probable XI for WTC Final vs SA

• Usman Khawaja
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Steve Smith
• Cameron Green
• Travis Head
• Beau Webster
• Alex Carey
• Pat Cummins
• Mitchell Starc
• Josh Hazlewood
• Nathan Lyon