“We’ll wait until we see the wicket, but that’s why we’ve included Stephen in the 13”. “He’s been remarkable, he keeps taking wickets”.
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The third test will be very important in the history of cricket, as it will be first day and night test in the 138 years of test cricket.
Australia squad for 3rd Test against New Zealand: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Joe Burns, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Steve O’Keefe, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges.
“I think in the Shield game they played there earlier with the pink ball they left a little bit of grass and I think from all reports that ball held up pretty well compared to the one out there on that pretty hard wicket at the MCG we played on (against Queensland last month)”, Pattinson said.
“His record in shield cricket, he continues to rack up the numbers”.
O’Keefe’s only Test cap came against Pakistan in Dubai in October a year ago, a match won by the home side by 221 runs.
Having prospered for New South Wales in three such matches, to the tune of 18 wickets at an average of 18, O’Keefe said: “I’ve certainly had success with the pink ball, and I think the selectors have noticed that”.
If it favours the seamers, Pattinson would likely spearhead a revamped attack alongside Mitchell Starc, now that Johnson has called time on his worldwide career.
Marsh comes in as a like-for-like replacement for Usman Khawaja, who will miss the Adelaide match with a hamstring injury, while Pattinson replaces Mitchell Johnson, who retired at the end of the second Test on Tuesday.
For O’Keefe to play in what would be his second test, and first in Australia, the home team would have to rely on two specialist pacemen and seam-bowling support from Mitch Marsh.
Hazlewood bowled a total of 38 overs in the WACA clash.
“They’re all a bit sore, so we’ll wait until we get to Adelaide [to make a decision]”.
Marsh was picked ahead of WA teammates Cameron JUBancroft and Michael Klinger to replace the injured Usman JUKhawaja in the third Test at JUAdelaide Oval.
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But Lehmann said Marsh was highly regarded by the selectors and that his experience in playing 15 Tests across seven series was invaluable. Although Pattinson has shown a few encouraging signs during the start of the summer his Victoria coach, Saker, said he would be anxious about Pattinson’s ability to get through a Test if the conditions were as batsman-friendly as they were in Perth. “Starcy had that the other day when he was bowling fast the other day so you try to be relaxed and get that rhythm”.
