Australia look to future with Pucovski, Green in India Test squad | Daily News

Australia look to future with Pucovski, Green in India Test squad

SYDNEY: Highly-rated young prospects Will Pucovski and Cameron Green were Thursday included in an expanded 17-man Test squad to face India as Australia looks to the future.

Opener Pucovski, 22, and all-rounder Green, 21, have been hammering on the door this season, impressing in the domestic Sheffield Shield with a host of former Australian greats urging their inclusion.

The selectors -- coach Justin Langer, Trevor Hohns and George Bailey -- heeded the calls, but not at the expense of the out-of-form Joe Burns, who retains his spot alongside regular opener David Warner.

Rookie spinner Mitchell Swepson and seamer Sean Abbott, along with fast bowler Michael Neser, who has long been on the fringes, also made the grade and are in line for debuts.

“It is such a positive sign for Australian cricket to have so many good young players stepping into contention,” said Hohns. “Two of those many standout players were of course Cameron Green and Will Pucovski.” “Their undeniable form demanded selection and we are very pleased to have these young men in the squad for what will be a tremendous Test series against an extremely formidable opponent.” World number one Australia, led by Tim Paine, play four Tests against Virat Kohli’s second-ranked India starting with a day-night fixture in Adelaide on December 17. They then move to the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne before heading to Sydney and Brisbane, with Kohli set to miss the final three games to return home for the birth of his first child. AFP