Australia has introduced a trimmed 15-player squad for next week’s World Test Championship Final against India, with paceman Josh Hazlewood making the lower regardless of latest considerations about his health.

The Test squad convened in London over the weekend forward of Australia’s six-Test tour of England, which kicks off at The Oval on Wednesday, June 7 for the highly-anticipated WTC Final.

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Australia has omitted all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and batter Matthew Renshaw for the marquee fixture in opposition to India, the place each side can be seeking to safe their maiden title and pocket AU$2.4 million in prize cash.

Marsh, serving as damage cowl for West Australian teammate Cameron Green, has been nursing a minor adductor pressure he sustained late within the Indian Premier League, News Corp experiences.

Hazlewood, who returned home from the Indian Premier League early with a facet criticism, has been named within the WTC Final squad regardless of debate on whether or not the 32-year-old ought to be wrapped in cotton wool forward of the Ashes.

The injury-prone New South Welshman has solely performed 4 Tests because the begin of the Covid-19 pandemic, lacking the latest Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India and the primary half of the IPL as a consequence of an Achilles damage.

He is joined by fellow quicks Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, however one of many 4 strike pacemen will presumably be sidelined for the WTC Final, most definitely Hazlewood.

Uncapped wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and spin prodigy Todd Murphy additionally retained their spot within the squad.

“We knew when (Hazlewood) went to the IPL that everything would have to go perfectly on the back of the Achilles setback in India and this stage everything is good,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald informed SEN final week.

“But it will have to go perfect for him to be part of that World Test Championship final and available.”

Hazlewood’s inclusion denied Queensland all-rounder Michael Neser, who has been turning heads within the County Championship this season, any chance of earning an eleventh-hour Test recall.

“We really feel it‘s almost like a home summer. We usually pick four quicks and travel around and add players when we need,” McDonald continued.

“We’ve acquired Michael and Sean (Abbott) over there and really feel they are often added in at any time relying on if new info involves us.”

Australia’s WTC Final squad

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Steven Smith (vice-capt), Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

Reserves: Mitchell Marsh, Matt Renshaw

India’s WTC Final squad

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk).

Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav