Melbourne: Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday announced the full-strength 13-man squad for the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh from August 13 to 26.
The team marked the return of Australia’s regular captain Pat Cummins, who missed most of the blockbuster Ashes series against arch-rivals England earlier this year due to a groin stress reaction.
Cummins will join fellow veteran pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in an Australian squad that includes all-rounders Cameron Greene and Beau Webster along with back-up pacer Scott Boland.
In another big boost for the home side, experienced right-arm spinner Nathan Lyon will return for the upcoming series against Bangladesh after missing the last two Tests of their home Ashes series against England last year.
However, Australia will look to fill the void left-handed opener Usman Khawaja retired earlier this year, with Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Jack Weatherault added as batting options for the former ICC World Test Championship (WTC) winners.
Australia’s National Selection Committee (NSP) chairman George Bailey welcomed the return of experienced players Cummins and Lyon, praising them for working “very hard” to overcome their respective injuries.
Bailey also addressed concerns over Australia naming 13 players in their squad instead of the usual 15, insisting they have plenty of players ready should any changes be required.
“NSP is looking forward to the return of Pat, Josh and Nathan. They have worked very hard individually and with the SSSM (Sports Science and Sports Medicine) teams over the past few months to return from their respective injuries,” Bailey said.
“Even though this is a 13-man squad, we have players ready if any changes are needed ahead of these matches.
“As previously stated, the volume and schedule of cricket over the next 12 months is likely to provide many players with additional opportunities across all formats.”
It is pertinent to mention that the two-match series, part of the current WTC 2025-27 cycle, will begin with the opening game scheduled to be played in Darwin from August 13 to 17, while Mackay will host the next game from August 22 to 26.
For the uninitiated, Australia are at the top of the WTC 2025-27 standings with 84 points from 8 matches, while Bangladesh are fourth with 28 points from four matches.
Australia squad for Test series against Bangladesh:
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jack Weatherold and Beau Webster.