Usman Khawaja and Jhye Richardson both returned to the fold as Australia on Wednesday named a 15-member squad under skipper Tim Paine for the first two Tests of this summer's Ashes, beginning at the Gabba on December 8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cricket Australia (CA) also announced an extended player list from which an Australia A team will be selected for a tour match against the English Lions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In what will be Australia's first Test series since last summer's Border-Gavaskar campaign, which they dramatically lost to India 2-1, Mitchell Marsh, who guided Australia to its maiden ICC T20 World Cup title in the UAE defeating New Zealand, hasn't found a place in the side for the first two Test matches, although he is in the list of 'Additional Australia A players'.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khawaja, last in the playing XI during Australia's 2019 tour of England, looks likely to vie for selection in the middle-order against Travis Head, with incumbents Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Cameron Green all look likely starters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
CA's chairman of selectors George Bailey indicated Marcus Harris would open the batting with David Warner, retaining his spot as the incumbent.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins (v-c), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n