Sydney Nov 17 (IANS) Cricket Australia (CA) on Friday raised a few eyebrows by recalling wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine after a seven-year absence from Test cricket for the first two Ashes Tests against England in Brisbane and Adelaide.
The 32-year-old Paine s shock inclusion comes as opener Cameron Bancroft was also named in the 13-man squad along with veteran batsman Shaun Marsh.
The trio will replace Matthew Wade Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell in Australia s Test team.
Bancroft 24 is set to open the batting alongside vice-captain David Warner and become Australia s 451st Test player.
National Selector Trevor Hohns said Bancroft had earned his call-up to the Test side.
"Cameron has been a player of interest to us for some time now having been unlucky to miss out on the Test tour to Bangladesh that was cancelled in 2015.
"He is a very talented and tough cricketer who shows a good temperament for Test cricke " Hons was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Hons reasoned Paine s better glovework behind his selection ahead of Matthew Wade and Peter Nevill.
"Paine was identified as an international player a long time ago and has always been renowned as a very good gloveman also performing well for us whenever he has represented Australia in any format " said Hohns.
On Marsh s selection Hons said: "He is a versatile player who can slot in anywhere in the batting order and will add valuable experience to the batting line-up."
The home side also strengthened their bowling by including South Australia s Chadd Sayers who could be in line for a debut in the day-night affair on his home turf at the Adelaide Oval for the second Test.
"Chadd s inclusion in the squad is with a view to the Adelaide Test and the conditions that we may see there " said Hohns.
"He swings the ball with good control and knows the conditions well at his home ground. He gives us this bowling option if required " he added.
The opening Test will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane from November 23-27 while the historic second day-night match will be played in Adelaide from December 2-6.
Australia squad for first two Tests: Steven Smith (Captain) David Warner (vice-capt) Cameron Bancroft Usman Khawaja Peter Handscomb Shaun Marsh Tim Paine (WK) Mitchell Starc Pat Cummins Nathan Lyon Josh Hazlewood Jackson Bird Chadd Sayers.
--IANS
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