Ashes hopefuls suffer blow as they are overlooked for the Australia A side against India A, with Konstas and Peake selected.
Ashes hopefuls Weatherald, Harris, Bancroft, Renshaw not included as the squad is a look towards the 2027 India series.
Although the squad was chosen with an eye towards Australia’s 2027 Test tour rather than the forthcoming Ashes, Sam Konstas’ attempt to hold onto his Test spot this summer will start in India after he was included in the 14-man Australia A squad that will play India A in two red-ball four-day matches in Lucknow in September.
Along with fellow adolescent Oliver Peake and Nathan McSweeney, Konstas was chosen in the team as an opening option for the Test match. Campbell Kellaway, a promising opener for Victoria, was also added to the batting lineup. Kurtis Patterson, Jason Sangha, and Jake Weatherald—all of whom played and did well in the most recent Australia A series against Sri Lanka A—were left off the list.
Additionally left out of the group were Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft, and Marcus Harris, three Australian openers with prior Test experience. While Bancroft had previously toured India with Australia A, including scoring 150 in an unofficial Test match against an India A team that included nine Indian Test players in Chennai in 2015, Renshaw has already made two Test trips to India.
Given that the national selectors have previously stated that the first three Sheffield Shield rounds will be of the utmost importance, it is quite doubtful that performances in India against India A in September will have any impact on Ashes selection. The team was obviously chosen with the long-term goal of exposing younger players to Indian circumstances.
“The subcontinent provides many unique challenges and the opportunity to utilise different skills with bat and ball,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.
“We hope repeated experiences in these conditions will assist players in developing an effective method and understanding of their game for future sub-continent tours.”
Todd Murphy, a test offspinner, was added to the team after he claimed 14 wickets in four Test matches in India in 2023, including a seven on his Test debut in Nagpur. Corey Rocchiccioli, a fellow offspinner who attended the MRF Academy last year and has experience playing for Australia A, will also have an opportunity to make an impression. Due to brief stints playing county cricket in England, both individuals were unable to participate in the most recent series against Sri Lanka A.
Cooper Connolly, a left-arm spinning all-rounder who made his Test debut earlier this year in Sri Lanka, will have the opportunity to obtain some crucial subcontinent experience. All-round seam bowlers Aaron Hardie, Liam Scott, and Jack Edwards were all picked; the latter is expected to make his debut for Australia A.