With skipper Michael Clarke’s fitness still a concern, Australia on Thursday added Shaun Marsh to its squad for the opening Test against India starting here on December 9.
“The National Selection Panel has today advised that West Australian Shaun Marsh has been added to the Test squad as an additional batsman for the first Commonwealth Bank Test,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Clarke’s hamstring injury remains a concern and it is still not clear whether he would be available for the opening match of the series, which required rescheduling owing to the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.
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The Australian team, which is still recovering from the shock of Hughes’ death after being hit by a bouncer, today flew from Coffs Harbour to here following an emotional funeral of Hughes in Macksville on Wednesday.
Marsh’s addition to the Test squad, which is now 13-strong, raises the prospect of him and Mitchell Marsh becoming the first set of brothers to play Test cricket for Australia since Steve and Mark Waugh in October 2002.
“The Australian Test squad will assemble in Adelaide today and tomorrow ahead of the first Test starting on Tuesday 9 December.”
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Clarke had been recovering from the injury but had put his treatment on hold after Hughes death last week.
The tragedy forced a reshuffle to Australia’s domestic and international cricket schedule, with the Brisbane Test now to be held second in the Border-Gavaskar Series.
Australia squad : Michael Clarke (c), Brad Haddin (wk), Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.