Australia call up Nathan McSweeney, Josh Inglis for BGT opener vs India

Australia have announced their 13-member squad for the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test against India in Perth, starting November 22, with Nathan McSweeney and Josh Inglis earning their maiden call-ups. McSweeney is expected to make his debut in the game, and will partner Usman Khawaja at the top.

As expected, Scott Boland is the only additional pacer in the squad, along with the 'big three' Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who are expected to start for Australia in Perth. Nathan Lyon is the sole spinner in the squad, with the likes of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne likely to chip in as well if required.

Inglis will not just act as a back-up wicketkeeper to Alex Carey, but can also fill in in the middle-order solely as a batter is required. His is the fourth highest run-getter in Sheffield Shield this season, even above McSweeney, but below Sam Konstas, who is in third spot. 

McSweeney had a good series against India A recently, during which he registered scores of 39, 88*, 14 and 25 - with the latter two coming as an opener - as Australia A completed a 2-0 whitewash. It was a direct shootout between him and Marcus Harris for the opening slot, but the latter played himself out contention despite a good showing in the first innings of the second unofficial Test at the MCG. Harris posted just one fifty across four games and capped off the series with a golden duck.

Australia have not won a Test series against India since the 2014-15 edition of the BGT but beat them in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2023.

Australia squad for first Test vs India: Pat Cummins (wk), Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

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