Australia on Sunday named a spin-heavy 16-man squad with four specialist slow bowlers in it for their four-match Test tour of India in February-March.
Uncapped leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson was named in the team to boost the spin contingent while all-rounder Glenn Maxwell made a Test comeback after more than two years.
The squad, to be led by Steve Smith, includes six specialist batsmen, four spinners, three pace bowlers, two all-rounders and a wicket-keeper. The Test series against top-ranked India begins on February 23 in Pune, followed by matches in Bangalore (March 4-8), Ranchi (March 16-20) and Dharamsala (March 25-29).
With the inclusion of only three fast-bowlers in the squad, the National Selection Panel will reassess the fast bowling stocks after the second Test in Bangalore, Cricket Australia said. Australia have not won a Test match in India since 2004, and the four-Test series is expected to be a stern test for skipper Smith and his team.
Speaking on the squad, interim national selector Trevor Hohns said the panel chose an additional spin bowler to allow as many options as possible.
Queenslander Swepson, 23, joins lead spinner Nathan lyon and left-arm orthodox Ashton Agar and Steve O'Keefe. Swepson is the only member of the squad yet to play Test cricket.