Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft – along with all-rounder Cameron Green – will all feature in a strong Prime Minister’s XI squad
Three candidates for David Warner’s starting spot at the end of the Pakistan Test series this summer will have the chance to stake their claim in next month’s Prime Minister’s XI match.
Victoria’s Marcus Harris, Queensland’s Matthew Renshaw and Western Australia’s Cameron Bancroft will all be part of the strong PM XI squad to face Pakistan in Canberra from December 6-9.
Omitted all-rounder Cameron Green is also set to be included in the squad announced next week as he bids to reclaim the No. 6 role he lost to his state teammate Mitch Marsh during the Ashes.
While the four-day clash at Manuka Oval serves as important preparation for the tourists ahead of their three-Test series against World Test Championship winners Australia, it will also serve as Usman Khawaja’s new opening partner for the two Test matches against the West. Doubles as the final audition. Indies after the series with Pakistan.
Warner had indicated before the WTC final and the Ashes that he planned to retire from Test cricket after the New Year match against the subcontinent at the SCG in January.
The 37-year-old also revealed this week that if he was offered a Cricket Australia contract for 2024-25 he would not take it, but would still like to attend next year’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean and potentially Will be available for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Will be held in Pakistan.
Harris had previously been selected by the national selectors as Warner’s successor in the red-ball format when he was handed a CA contract for the current financial year in April, but a poor start to the Marsh Sheffield Shield season for Victoria cost him two of his main starts. Has put rivals in trouble. Back in the frame.
The 31-year-old left-hander scored his first century of the summer in the first innings of the draw with Tasmania at the Junction Oval last week, making 73 on the MCG pitch in the current round.
His previous top score was 11 in four innings at the start of the Shield season.
Bancroft is again the Shield’s leading scorer with 505 runs at an average of 63.12 so far this season, including two centuries and three half-centuries in his eight innings, after topping the competition table with almost 300 runs last summer. Even after this his team had claimed back-to-back. Back title.
“He’s doing everything he can,” WA head coach Adam Voges said of Bancroft after scores of 57 and 100 in last month’s clash with the Redbacks.
“He was excellent throughout last season. He has started this season in the same way as he did last year and he is the dominant form batsman of the competition.
“His consistency and his way of scoring runs is unbelievable.
“He and Sam Whiteman at the top have been a big part of the reason why we have had success in recent times.”
Renshaw has had a good start to the season with consecutive centuries against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup, as well as half-centuries against NSW and Tasmania in the Shield.
The trio have tasted Test cricket in the top order before – Harris 26 innings, Bancroft 18 and Renshaw 19 – Renshaw was the last of the trio to wear the baggy green in the middle order in the first two Tests. Border-Gavaskar series in February this year.
Men’s selection chairman George Bailey said opportunities for domestic players to face international opposition are rare and he would select a strong and highly talented team to play Pakistan.
“As the Australian men’s Test team continues to develop in the short to medium term, the timing of the matches comes at a crucial stage of the summer, with five home Tests and two in New Zealand,” he said.
“We have seen some strong individual performances at the start of the Sheffield Shield season and with one more round left before team selection, we are keen to see players continue to put their hand forward for selection.”
The match will again be played with the red ball, like the day-night pink ball match with tickets to the four-day match with the West Indies last summer. on sale now,
NRMA Insurance Test Series vs Pakistan
Prime Minister’s XI: 6-9 December, Manuka Oval (10.30am AEDT)
First Test: 14-18 December, Perth Stadium (1.20pm AEDT)
Second Test: 26-30 December, MCG (10.30am AEDT)
Third Test: 3-7 January, SCG (10.30am AEDT)
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