Australia Pick Lance Morris For Perth Test Vs Pakistan As CA Names Strong 14-Man Squad

Warner is scheduled to play his farewell Test in upcoming Tests vs PAK (AP Photo)

Australia are back to full strength for the opening Test of the forthcoming series against Pakistan in Perth with the selectors handing comebacks to senior off-spinner Nathan Lyon and all-rounder Cameron Green for the beginning of the home summer. 

The selectors confirmed a strong 14-member squad for the Test series opener scheduled to begin on December 14 as the Pat Cummins-led defending World Test Championship (WTC) winners strive to bag full points with a dominant performance versus Pakistan. 

Western Australia seamer Lance Morris is the only fresh inclusion in an established Test set-up. The right-arm speedster has been named for the Perth Test keeping in mind his pace and hostility and the likely conditions at the Optus Stadium. 

Morris has earned his maiden Test call-up on the back of exceptional domestic first-class performances. The 25-year-old has taken 74 wickets in his 22 first-class outings at a magnificent average of 25.44, including two five-wicket hauls and best figures of 5 for 36 in the Sheffield Shield. 

---

ALSO READ

'If Virat Kohli Plays No.3, There Won't...' - Aakash Chopra On Jitesh Sharma's Future

---

Australia Persist With Carey, Boland For Perth Test

The rest of the squad features familiar faces with no major changes observed to the contingent that defeated India in the World Test Championship final in June at The Oval and drew level 2-2 on their marquee Ashes 2023 trip to England in August. 

Chief selector George Bailey showed persistence with premier wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey and backup seamer Scott Boland despite question marks raised on their performances during the Ashes. Bailey also backed young all-rounder Green for the opening Test after he was dropped for the fifth and final Ashes 2023 Test at The Oval in favour of incumbent Mitchell Marsh.

The selectors would've welcomed the return of Lyon with open arms after the great bowler's injury-forced absence at the start of the England series disrupted their Ashes plans. There was no place for backup spinner Todd Murphy, however, which indicates a pace-dominant attack for the Pakistan Test. 

Australia Test squad for 1st Test vs Pakistan

Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.