In the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy next month, Australian white-ball wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is “in the mix” to make his Test debut as a specialist hitter due to his explosive form.
Josh Inglis, an Australian white-ball wicketkeeper-batter who is in scorching form, was alluded to by chief selector George Bailey on Monday as being “in the mix” to make his Test debut as a specialist batter in the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In a five-Test series that starts in Perth on November 21, India—which has won the major series four times in a row—will take on Australia. “There’s no doubt that the form is really fantastic at the moment… the ability to jump back into domestic cricket and dominate has been fantastic,” Bailey told the media.
“I think in different series at different times of the year, he would firmly come into the mix purely as a batter the way he’s been going.” “If the right opportunity opened up throughout the summer, in the spots where we think he’s most capable of performing, I think he’d be firmly in that conversation as well.” The 29-year-old, Australia’s ODI and T20I keeper, has four hundreds in the last seven Sheffield Shield matches.
However, with Australian Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey in excellent form, Inglis has emerged as a specialist middle-order batsman, but not for the vacant opening position, according to Bailey.
Australia’s attempt to promote Steve Smith to the top spot following David Warner’s retirement failed, and with Cameron Green sidelined for the India series due to a back ailment, there is a vacancy alongside Usman Khawaja.
However, Bailey has ruled out Inglis for the opening role.
“I have spoken with Josh about this. Not in the short term, and I don’t think he’s someone we’d want to put at the front of the queue,” Bailey stated.
Inglis, in fact, is a contender to head Australia’s T20I team in the forthcoming three-match series against Pakistan.All-format players, including regular T20 skipper Mitchell Marsh, will miss the Pakistan series to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“We’ve been really clear that we are prioritising the preparation for individuals around the Test summer and that will be the first time that we get that group together,” Bailey informed the audience.
“So, rather than switching guys in and out and becoming quite messy, it was just deemed more appropriate for a number of reasons to separate them out.” This will be Australia’s first Test series in the current WTC cycle since defeating New Zealand 2-0 in a two-game away series in March.
