Australia forced to re-shuffle quicks for Pakistan tour

Injury has forced Australia into a change to their squad for the upcoming Test tour of Pakistan, with uncapped paceman Mark Steketee called up to replace Michael Neser.

Neser, who made his Test debut during the recent Ashes series against England, suffered a side strain while bowling for his state during Australia's domestic one-day competition earlier this week and will be given time to recoup.

His place in the travelling party will be taken by the experienced Steketee, who is currently the leading wicket taker in Australia's Sheffield Shield competition this season with 29 scalps.

Another uncapped paceman in Brendan Doggett has also been placed on standby for the series, adding to Australia's bevy of fast bowling options available to new skipper Pat Cummins.

While Jhye Richardson has decided to skip the historic tour of Pakistan, Australia now have a total of six pace bowling options that may be used during the series.

Cummins will not only lean on the experienced duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for support, but will also be joined by the impressive Scott Boland, Steketee and possibly Doggett for Australia’s first Test tour of Pakistan since 1998.

The first of three WTC Tests commences in Rawalpindi on March 4, with three ODIs and one T20I to follow.

**Australia squad:**Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Brendan Doggett