Australia squad for tour of India announced, winners and losers Todd Murphy, Marcus Harris, Michael Neser

Australia have confirmed their Test squad for their upcoming tour of India.

Considering 18 players were named ahead of four Tests, there were plenty of winners. But a number of stars can consider themselves unlucky to miss out.

Foxsports.com.au analyzes the big winners and losers after the Aussie Test squad for the February-March tour was revealed.

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THE WINNERS

Todd Murphy

Big winner and big winner. Well, a bolt in the sense that he’s only been on the domestic scene for a few years, but many pundits believed him to be a strong possibility to earn a spot on the team.

Murphy, 22, is one of four spinners in the squad, giving Australia plenty of options for matches played on dry colors that traditionally favor slow bowlers.

The right-hand side wheel has only seven premium games. But he impressed at domestic level over the past three summers and emerged as a genuine Test candidate in recent months.

Murphy took 3-27 for the PMs XI against the West Indies before taking seven wickets in the Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales. Four of those seven scalps came in the Blues’ second term as the economical Murphy powered Victoria to victory.

The fact that he took one wicket in all four BBL matches he played for the Sydney Sixers this summer, while conceding an average of just six runs per over, has only strengthened his case.

News Corp reported on Tuesday evening that Australian selectors rated Murphy as Australia’s second best spinner. But releasing him for the first time against the Indians in Indian conditions would be an almighty risk, so former Aussie pacer Michael Kasprowiczs warns the selectors about Murphy’s debut next month.

But at least for Murphy’s sake, he’s clearly on the cusp of the big time.

Todd Murphy has progressed quickly, impressing in domestic cricket and more recently in Australia A, chairman of selectors George Bailey said. With these performances, Todd has emerged as a strong spin option.

Selection in this squad also provides another opportunity to spend time with Nathan Lyon and assistant coach Daniel Vettori in India, which will be invaluable to his development.

Mitchell Swepson

The Queenslander would surely have been relieved after being told he had a seat on the plane to India, as many thought he might have fallen out of favor with the selectors.

After spending years on the fringes of Nathan Lyon, Swepson was given a crack at Test level last year. He played two matches in Pakistan and two in Sri Lanka with a total of 10 wickets at 45.8.

But he struggled this Australian summer, claiming 12 wickets at 39.7 from five Shield matches and four wickets at 51.3 from four Marsh Cup matches. He also barely fired a shot for the Heat in the BBL. He took just one wicket in eight games and conceded 9.1 runs per over.

But Swepsons, who has been placed in the Indian series squad, suggests the selectors still believe he is not only the best long-form leg-spinner in the country, but can also make an impact at the international level.

Lance Morris

By no means a shock winner, but Morris’ selection would fill him with plenty of confidence.

The WA fast bowler has been part of the Australian line-up all summer but has been seen primarily externally as an option to replace one of the first choices should one of them be injured. And it almost came true last week when Morris came very close to a debut in the third South Africa Test at the SCG, but the selectors were left with two spinners and a specialist batter at No.6.

But Morris is bound for India and is a direct Test selection, not an injury fill-in.

Wild Thing has been the best bowler in the Sheffield Shield so far this summer, taking 27 wickets on 18/4. The most impressive feature of his performances has been his consistency, taking at least three wickets in six of his nine innings and at least one scalp in all nine innings.

Indian wickets tend not to hold the same juice for pace bowlers compared to the pitches of Australia and England. But Morris’ biggest asset right now is his sheer pace and his ability to reach the 150km/h mark could cause headaches for India’s top order if given the chance next month.

Peter Handscomb and Matt Renshaw

When Renshaw was recalled to the Aussie squad and Handscomb to the extended squad sidelined with concussion for the third Test against the Proteas last week, it was a sign that both players were included in the India-bound squad.

Both players were regulars in Australia’s Test squad in 2016 and 2017, with the duo scoring hundreds against Pakistan to announce themselves on the international stage. Both Handscomb and Renshaw followed patchy form which led to their axing from the team.

But the pair have been among the most impressive in the Sheffield Shield so far this summer. Handscomb is the clear leading run scorer with 571 runs, including an unbeaten 281 against Western Australia in mid-October, at 81.57. The only other competitor to register a Shield double ton this season has been Renshaw, who averages 51.7 from his five matches.

Handscomb and Renshaw are not only fit but are also seen as solid spinners, which is crucial for the Indian pacers.

It is doubtful whether Handscomb or Renshaw can immediately break into the first series after Australia’s impressive performances with the bat against the West Indies and South Africa. But if either of them do, they will return to the Test arena in decent form.

Handscomb is also the backup point guard if something happens to Alex Carey. Although there are doubts over his own fitness after injuring his hip in a seemingly harmless knock while batting in club cricket on Tuesday night.

Peter Handscomb deserves his place back in the team, Bailey said. His domestic form has been strong of late and Pete has shown he can perform at Test level.

His experience against spin in the subcontinent is valuable and he is also exceptionally good at close range.

Losers

Marcus Harris

From playing in last years home Ashes summer and being in the extended squad for all five home Tests this summer, completely out of the touring party.

Harris is stymied.

The left-handed opener traveled with the Aussies for their last two Test series before being released back to the BBL midway through the SCG Test.

Given Usman Khawajas’ epic calendar year 2022 and his brilliant start to 2023, along with the recent return of David Warners, Harris’ chances of opening the innings for Australia have diminished.

But perhaps Matt Renshaws new versatility has cost Harris somewhat. Renshaw has opened Australia before, but the selectors were prepared to play him at No.6 in the recent Sydney Test, something they were unlikely to do with Harris.

And the fact that Handscomb can take the gloves to Australia if needed may have helped his case to earn selection over Harris.

Harris hit 73 against the West Indies for PMs XI in late November but has barely played since a stint with the Aussie Test squad. The 30-year-old already has 14 Tests under his belt but has yet to score a century and averages just 25.3.

Michael Neser

The Queenslander is proof of how competitive it is to land a spot in the Aussie Test team at the moment.

Neser couldn’t have been more impressive so far this summer, performing well at every level he played across all formats. He took 24 wickets at 14.5 in the Sheffield Shield, 11 wickets at 15.1 in the Marsh Cup and 10 wickets including a hat-trick at 18.1 in the BBL.

And when he was given a crack at Test level against the West Indies last month, he picked up five cards for the Adelaide match.

However, there is no place in the plane for the right-hander, as Scott Boland and Lance Morris were ahead of him.

Stiff.

Adam Zampa and Matt Kuhnemann

Four spinners were selected for the tour of India, but these two were not.

Although Zampa has become Australia’s number one choice in white-ball formats, there had been growing interest surrounding his red-ball potential in recent months after he revealed to Fox Cricket that it was still his dream to play Test cricket. He was then picked for his first Shield game since 2019, taking three 3-57 against Victoria as he hoped to stake his claim for a Test call-up to tour India.

But the leggie was overlooked by the selectors even though he feels his game has improved enough in the last few years. Mitch Swepson was the chosen leg bike ahead of him.

Kuhnemann has been in the Australian set-up recently, which led to him playing four ODIs against Sri Lanka in June last year. And his first class bowling average, economy rate and batting rate are all better than Ashton Agars.

Yet Agar, who played against the Proteas at the SCG last week, got the nod ahead of the Queenslander.

Cameron Bancroft

The WA opener missed out on selection despite continuing to ply his case across all three formats this summer.

Bancroft has scored 483 runs in the Sheffield Shield, including a record three centuries in the competition, and averages 51.7 in the Marsh Cup and 62.0 in the Big Bash.

He was given a decent run in the Test side as an opener in 2017 and 2018 before ball-tampering before earning a call-up again for two Tests in the 2019 Ashes that produced four scores of 16 or less.

But Bancroft is building momentum this summer. Don’t be surprised to see him in the mix in the Ashes later this year.

Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh

It’s almost as simple as saying that if both all-rounders were fit and healthy now, they’d be on a plane to India in a few weeks.

Instead, they watch from afar.

Maxwell revealed on Fox Cricket on Tuesday night that he is targeting the tour of India, where he scored a maiden Test century in 2017, as his best chance of returning to Australia’s red-ball line-up. Instead, he still doesn’t have a definite return date from the horrific broken leg injury he suffered in November last year.

Marsh, who played 32 Tests, remains sidelined after suffering a long-term ankle injury late last year.