Australia has announced its 15-member squad for the opening Test match against England in Perth this month, but is yet to confirm its opening eleven.
Steve Smith will captain the team, replacing the injured Pat Cummins, with Travis Head as his deputy.
Chairman of selectors George Bailey said the squad “gives us good balance” and with 14 members playing in the next round of Australia’s top domestic competition, the Sheffield Shield, “we will continue to gather information” before the first Test.
Three players – batsman Jake Weatherald and bowlers Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott – will be making their Test debut, with Weatherald a contender alongside Marnus Labuschagne to open with Usman Khawaja.
All-rounders Cameron Green, who returned recently after back surgery, and Beau Webster will both don the baggy green, alongside wicketkeeper Alex Carey with Josh Inglis as his reserve.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, spinner Nathan Lyon and seamers Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland round out the squad.
Announcing the team in Queensland on Wednesday, Bailey said he was hopeful that Cummins might return later in the series, after a back injury sidelined him for selection.
On Weatherald’s selection, Bailey said his performance over the past 18 months had been “really solid” and his style was “really complementary to the other players around him in the squad”.
Asked who would be in the opening eleven, Bailey remained tight-lipped.
“That’s the squad. But it’s the 5th of November, the Test starts on the 21st. We don’t necessarily need to name the XI until the coin goes up.”
Sam Konstas, who opened for Australia in three Test matches in the West Indies in July, was not selected. He has only passed 50 runs once in seven innings this season in domestic cricket.
The first Test runs from 21 to 25 November at Optus Stadium in Perth, followed by the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane from 4 to 8 December.
Adelaide Oval will host the third Test from 17 to 21 December before the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 to 30 December.
The five-match series over seven weeks finishes at the Sydney Cricket Ground from 4 to 8 January.
England named its 16-man squad in September with Ben Stokes as captain and Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley as the opening batters.
