Australia announces squad for remainder of BGT 2024-25 Test series, Sam Konstas gets maiden national call-up (Photo by Santanu Banik/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The National Selection Panel (NSP) has named a 15-player men’s squad for the fourth and fifth Test matches against India in Melbourne and Sydney. Australia and India are 1-all in the Border Gavaskar Trophy with two matches to play.
Notably, the caravan of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024-25) moves on to Melbourne. Both sides will clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) aka ‘The G’. The fourth Test will commence on December 26.
Furthermore, the upcoming fixture will be an annual event held by Cricket Australia. For the unversed, the upcoming Test will be the “Boxing Day” Test. Meanwhile, ahead of the special Test match, hosts Australia announced a 15-member squad for the remainder of the series.
Australia Squad for remaining BGT Tests:
| Player Name | Domestic Teams |
| Pat Cummins (c) | NSW/Penrith Cricket Club |
| Sean Abbott | NSW/Parramatta District Cricket Club |
| Scott Boland | VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club |
| Alex Carey | SA/Glenelg Cricket Club |
| Travis Head (vc) | SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club |
| Josh Inglis | WA/Joondalup Cricket Club |
| Usman Khawaja | QLD/Valley District Cricket Club |
| Sam Konstas | NSW/Sutherland District Cricket Club |
| Marnus Labuschagne | QLD/Redlands Cricket Club |
| Nathan Lyon | (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club |
| Mitchell Marsh | WA/Fremantle Cricket Club |
| Jhye Richardson | WA/Fremantle Cricket Club |
| Steve Smith (vc) | NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club |
| Mitchell Starc | NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club |
| Beau Webster | TAS/Kingborough Cricket Club |
Sam Konstas earns his maiden national Test call-up
Sean Abbott returns to the squad along with Beau Webster. Jhye Richardson has been added. Sam Konstas earns his first call-up to the national squad. Nathan McSweeney missed selection.
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“The squad provides options as to how we structure the XI for the final two Tests of the series. Sam gets a call-up to the Test squad for the first time. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to watching his game develop further. We remain confident Nathan has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level in the future. It was a difficult decision to leave him out,” said Chair of Selectors George Bailey.
“It has clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for batters throughout the series and we want to provide the option of a different lineup for the next two matches. In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye provides further options in the fast bowling space. It has been pleasing to see his successful return throughout the early part of the domestic summer,” he concluded.
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