Related Link : Sri Lanka’s Tour of Australia 2007/08
Australia have picked a 13-man squad for the first Test at Gabba against Sri Lanka which begins on the 8th. The squad consists of two wrist spinners in Stuart MacGill and Brad Hogg of whom only one is expected to make it in the Test Match.
This is the first time in several years that the Australians are going into a Test Match without the services of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, who had retired last season. They are also without Justin Langer who had also joined the retirement procession. Langer’s place has been given to left hander Phil Jaques, who has played 2 Tests and 6 ODIs so far. Jaques has a prolific average of well over 50.00 at the first class level with more than 30 hundreds.
While Brett Lee and Stuart Clark are automatic picks in the final eleven, the third pacer could be a toss up between the express Shaun Tait and the variety in left arm quick Mitchell Johnson.
Australia Squad for 1st Test : Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (Captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (Wicket Keeper), Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait, Brad Hogg, Stuart MacGill