Australia is reportedly set to pull a selection shock for the third Test against South Africa starting at the SCG on Wednesday.
According to NewsCorp, both Ashton Agar and Matt Renshaw are set to be recalled as Australia takes the unusual approach of selecting just four front-line bowlers.
It is understood Australia is wary of how the Sydney pitch could play and have opted to instead bolster the batting line up.
Watch Australia v South Africa. Every test match live and ad-break in play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
READ MORE
Awkward selection call that’s hard to fathom; forgotten stars’ exile to end: Burning Qs
Fox secures cricket rights in blockbuster $1.5b agreement as details of new deal revealed
It means a first Test on home soil for Agar while Renshaw will pull on the baggy green for the first time since 2018.
Josh Hazelwood, meanwhile, is expected to replace Scott Boland after recovering from injury.
Boland has been in scintilating form but Australia looks set to back the encumbent Hazlewood to partner skipper Pat Cummins.
It looms as a big gamble for the Australians to take in just two seam bowlers given Hazlewood’s recent struggles with injuries. He missed the first two Tests of the South Africa series with a side strain.
It means Western Australian speedster Lance Morris will have to wait for his Test debut. The 24-year-old, who can bowl at speeds in excess of 150km/h, has been backed by several former players but will have to bide his time.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Cummins was giving little away but admitted Australia had settled on its XI.
Cummins, however, paid tribute to Renshaw for forcing his way back into the squad.
“He’s become a new father as well in the last few weeks, which makes you grow up pretty quickly,” Cummins said.
“It’s a common trend. It always has been. Later into your twenties you’re a better batter than when you were starting out.
“Credit to him, he got his chance to debut in his early 20s which is a fantastic effort, he’s gone away and scored plenty of runs – you just learn your game better, you learn what works for you.
“Even T20 – the introduction of reverse sweeps and how to play spin differently. He just looks like he’s got more tools in his armoury than he did five or six years ago.”
Cummins would also not be drawn on the selection battle between Hazlewood and Boland.
“We’ll see tomorrow. He’s (Hazlewood) a class act. He’s played 50-odd games,” Cummins said.
“We’re as disappointed as anyone to not see him play as much Test matches over the last couple of years. I thought in Perth particularly, he didn’t take a bag of wickets but he was our best bowler, he was fantastic.
“If he gets his chance I’m sure we’ll get back to the super Mr Consistent Joshy.”
He did, however, appear to pour cold water on Morris’ chances of a Test debut conceding the dry SCG pitch was “not the WACA”.
“We’ll see. I don’t think it’s the WACA type pace bowling friendly wicket out there, so we’ll see,” Cummins told reporters.
“Yesterday we had a pretty good look at the wicket, just wanted to have another look today 24 hours on. It hasn’t really changed. They’ve taken a bit more grass from it. Looks a bit more like an SCG wicket of 10-15 years ago I think.
“It’s a huge connection to India. I think with fast bowling, reverse swing is going to come into it, which we can expect in India.
“We’ll probably get more spin overs here. Our batters are obviously going to face more spin here as well. It’s a really good connection. Even personally captaining here might be different to the last few Test matches. It’s good preparation for India.”
It comes as Steve Smith sent an injury scare through the Australian camp when he was struck on the hand in the nets at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Fox Sports News showed vision of Smith in clear pain after a delivery hit him on the right hand on Tuesday morning.
Smith immediately took his glove off to inspect the damage.
While he resumed the net session and received some throw downs he was clearly affected and cast a frustrated figure.
Australia has already been forced into two changes after Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc were ruled out with injury.
While Cricket Australia told Fox Cricket Smith would be fine to play, it is hardly what Australia needed ahead of the New Year’s Test.
Likely Australian XI
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (C), Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.