Australia have dropped George Bailey from the Test squad to tour South Africa next month, opting instead for uncapped batsman Alex Doolan and a resurgent Shaun Marsh.
Bailey played in all five of Australia’s Ashes tests against England this summer but performed only moderately, scoring 183 runs at an average of 26 with a highest score of 53.
Shaun Marsh was recalled to the Australia squad Monday after a two-year absence. Marsh played the most-recent of his seven tests against India in January, 2012 but has won back his place after a series of strong one-day performances.
Fast bowlers James Pattinson and Jackson Bird have also been named in the 15-man squad after missing the Ashes series, while Nathan Coulter-Nile has been omitted.
Chairman of selectors John Inverarity said the decision to omit Bailey was difficult, but Doolan and Marsh were thought likely to be more at home in South African conditions. “This was a difficult decision but on this occasion we felt Alex and Shaun have games that are well suited to facing South Africa in South Africa,” Inverarity said. “We consider that both are strong players of pace bowling which is important given the strength of South Africa’s attack.
“Alex was on standby for the recent fifth test in Sydney and scored a most impressive 165 not out against South Africa for Australia A last season,” he added.
Inverarity said Doolan and Marsh had been preferred to Phil Hughes, who was better suited to a place higher in the order. Bailey was also seen to have limitations against seam bowling.
Squad: Michael Clarke(captain), Brad Haddin, Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Nathan lyon, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.
T20 squad to play Eng announced
Meanwhile, Bailey has retained the captaincy of the Australian Twenty20 cricket team for its three-match series against England after being dropped from the test squad for the forthcoming series in South Africa.
Test stars David Warner, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson were rested and not among the 14-man squad which was announced on Monday.
Spinner James Muirhead, 20, was the surprise of the squad, included after playing only four Twenty20 matches.
Selection chairman John Inverarity said Muirhead’s performance for a Cricket Australia Invitational XI against England had clinched his selection. Inverarity said Australia was looking at its spin bowling options for the world T20 tournament in March. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has also been named, despite a back injury.
T20 squad: George Bailey (captain), Aaron Finch, Dan Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Cutting, James Faulkner, Josh Hazelwood, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, James Muirhead, Chris lynn, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Cameron White.