Australia announce squads for UAE tour, Glenn Maxwell returns to Test cricket

Glenn Maxwell

Melbourne, Sep 8 (IANS) Spinner Steve O'Keefe and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh could well be making their Test debuts against Pakistan as Cricket Australia (CA) announced their Test, One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International squads for the upcoming tour of the United Arab Emirates.

Australia will take on Pakistan in one T20I, three ODIs and two Tests in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi from Oct 5 to Nov 3.

"This series against Pakistan is highly important for us, presenting a chance to reclaim the No.1 Test ranking. It also forms an important part of our preparation for the World Cup as well as the opportunity to claim valuable points in the fight for the NO.1 ODI ranking," CA's national selector Rod Marsh said.

O'Keefe and Marsh have been selected in the Test squad for the first time.

"We have picked Steve as the extra spinner. We are unsure what pitch conditions we will encounter in UAE, but we need to be prepared to play two spinners. We are confident that Steve can perform at the next level. Mitchell's form with Australia A has been fantastic and he carried that through to the recent Zimbabwe tour," said the selector.

Meanwhile, pacer Sean Abbot earned an ODI spot for the first time while another quickie Pat Cummins will make his return to international cricket as part of the T20I squad. Cummins last represented Australia in October 2012 before suffering a back injury.

Leg-spinner Cameron Boyce also got selected for the first time in the T20I squad.

Test squad: Michael Clarke (Captain), Alex Doolan, Phil Hughes, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Johnson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.

ODI squad: Michael Clarke (Captain), Sean Abbott, George Bailey, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.

T20I squad: Aaron Finch (Captain), Sean Abbott, Cameron Boyce, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.