‘Ye team toh India ko Innings defeat se hara degi’ – Fans react to Australia announcing team for World Test Championship final

The 17-man Australian team squad for the World Test Championship Final as well as the opening two Tests of the subsequent battle against England for the coveted urn includes all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who hasn’t played Test cricket in four years. Marsh has struggled with injuries for several disappointing summers, but his recent efforts against India in the white-ball formats and in his lone first-class appearance of the year (a quickfire century against Tasmania) highlighted his potential to change the course of games. 

Who all have been included in the squad for the upcoming Tests against India and England?

The core lineup that led Australia through the Test Championship Final against India with consistent play over the previous two years has been kept, as expected, by the national selection panel, with Marcus Harris retained as the backup opener to David Warner with Usman Khawaja. 

Four specialist quicks—captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland—along with seam bowlers Cameron Green and Marsh, spinners Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy, and all-rounders Cameron Green and Marsh make up the group. As required by the governing body of International Cricket for the Test Championship Final versus India at The Oval (June 7-11), the squad, which will gather in England in late May, will be reduced to 15 on May 28.

Following today’s announcement, the 17 players will start preparing for the first two Ashes Tests at Edgbaston (June 16–20) and Lord’s (June 28–July 2) before selectors change the lineup for the next three Ashes Games at Headingley, Old Trafford, and The Oval. 

The squad selected by the selection panel for the Test Championship final as well as the first two Ashes Tests are down below: 

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner

Fans react to Australian selection committee announcing the squad for the Test championship final: