BGT: Australia's squad selection criteria for Perth Test baffles Hussey, Gilchrist

Former Australia greats Michael Hussey and Adam Gilchrist expressed their reservations over the hosts’ squad selection criteria for the first Test against India in Perth starting November 22.

While Hussey feels Nathan McSweeney’s selection ahead of a specialist opener for the first Test is a tough call, Gilchrist questions Josh Inglis’ selection as a reserve batter, whom he thinks is among the top six Test batters in the country.

However, per Cricket Australia's earlier policy of playing their best batters for any Test, Inglis’ appointment as a backup player, besides being second to McSweeney in the pecking order, contradicts its very purpose.

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McSweeney, 25, never opened in first-class cricket until asked by the selectors to do so for the second unofficial Test against India A at the MCG, where he scored 14 and 25 across both innings. Though he impressed everyone with his match-winning knock in the second inning of the first game, picking him over regular openers and other contenders like Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Sam Konstas baffles Hussey.

“I think it’s a tough ask to ask him to play his first Test match as an opening batsman against India in a huge series when he hasn’t opened before in first-class cricket apart from last week in the India A clash.

“It’s not easy at all. I know people will say Simon Katich and Shane Watson have done it in the past. They moved from the middle-order up to the top order, but they played 20-30 Test matches before they made the move,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket while commentating in the third Australia-Pakistan ODI on Sunday (Nov 8).

Considering Australia will be without their emerging star Cameron Green for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, fitting the top six best batters in the playing XI would be some task for the selectors, captain and management.

“It’s a tough ask, and, personally, I would prefer a specialist opener, but I think the Australian selectors’ philosophy is picking the best six batters in the country, and then we’ll figure the order out after that. They may not play him at the top of the order. Marnus Labuschagne may move up. Maybe they haven’t made up their mind exactly what their order is at this stage. They have just decided these are our six best batters, and now we’ll figure out where they sit best,” Hussey added.

Gilly questions Inglis’ new role

Inglis has been Australia’s first-choice white-ball keeper batter since the past year; however, he plays second fiddle to Test regular Alex Carey. Despite being among the runs in the domestic, his selection as a reserve batter, while he should be among the first names on the team sheet, makes Gilchrist question the selection criteria.

“Inglis is in that squad as a reserve batter, which isn’t traditionally what Australia does in home conditions. I think McSweeney will open…but do they stick with the policy they had last year where we want our six best batters in Australia playing in the top six? Josh Inglis, at the moment, is in the six best batters in Australia. Do they break away from that policy? I think they will.” Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.

Meanwhile, the right-handed McSweeney will open alongside Usman Khawaja in the first Test against India.

(With inputs from agencies)