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Batsman Shaun Marsh named in Australia Test squad
Adelaide: Left-handed batsman Shaun Marsh was on Wednesday named as a replacement for injured Usman Khawaja in Australia’s squad for the third cricket Test against New Zealand starting here on November 27.
West Australian Shaun replaced Khawaja who injured his left hamstring in the second Test match in Perth and is likely to be unavailable for Australia’s next two matches.
“Shaun was unlucky to miss out on the squad for the first two Tests and since then has scored consistently in Sheffield Shield, so we believe he deserves this opportunity,” Cricket Australia (CA)’s National Selector Rod Marsh said in a release.
New South Welshman Stephen O’Keefe has also been included in the side as an extra spin-bowling option.
“We have opted to include an extra spinner in the squad for Adelaide as we are unsure what conditions we will see there. Stephen was included in our squad that was to go to Bangladesh and if he should get an opportunity we think he will make the most of it,” Rod said.
Victorian paceman James Pattinson joins the squad following the retirement of left-armer Mitchell Johnson.
“James has made a good return to Shield cricket following his injury and has earned this re-call. He has worked incredibly hard and we are confident that he is ready to perform at Test level if selected.”
The squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner (vice-captain), Joe Burns, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges.
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.