Selection surprise as opener wins Australia recall for West Indies Test series
The Test series is crucial for Australia as they attempt to cement a place in next year's ICC World Test Championship final and two wins over the Caribbean side will push them closer a berth.
Australia currently sit in second place on the ICC World Test Championship standings and the West Indies series is the first of three that will ultimately determine their fate.
Harris has not played a Test for Australia since he featured against England at the SCG at the start of the year, but the 30-year-old is in line to partner fellow lefty David Warner at the top of the order after he missed out on tours to Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the middle of the year.
The 13-player squad named by Australia on Tuesday is similar to the one that claimed the Ashes over England at the start of the year, with Harris' inclusion warranted according to selection chair George Bailey.
“After some larger squads for the sub-continent tours over the winter, we have returned to a very similar squad to that which performed strongly last summer in comprehensively winning the Ashes," Bailey said.
"Marcus Harris retains his place after continuing to perform for Gloucestershire in the English County competition and a strong start to the Sheffield Shield season."
Selectors have also named a 14-player squad for a three-game ODI series against England later this month, with the series to be the first one since Pat Cummins took the captaincy reins from Aaron Finch.
There are no major surprises in the squad, with Bailey indicating the matches will form an important preparation ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in India next year.
“Our focus is to continue to build a squad with an eye to next year’s World Cup under Pat as the new ODI captain, so it’s an important series," Bailey said.
“Travis Head returns in place of Aaron Finch having played well in Pakistan and Sri Lanka earlier in the year. He has demonstrated flexibility in the types of roles he can play in our ODI line-up.
“Our next opportunity in the ODI format will be in India next year which will allow us to experience similar conditions as for the World Cup in October.”
Australia Test squad against West Indies: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner
Australia ODI squad against England: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Australia Test series against West Indies
First Test: November 30 – December 4, Perth Stadium
Second Test: December 8-12, Adelaide Oval
Australia ODI series against England
First ODI: Thursday November 17, Adelaide Oval
Second ODI: Saturday November 19, SCG
Third ODI: Tuesday November 22, MCG
The Australia v England ODIs, and Australia v West Indies Test series, will be LIVE on ICC.tv as part of the Australia Full Summer Pass (also includes Australia v South Africa, and Pakistan Women) for $19.99 USD.
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