Australia also axe Aaron Finch and Peter Handscomb after defeat to India
Thursday 10 January 2019 07:15, UK
Australia have picked uncapped batsman Will Pucovski for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, with Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Aaron Finch and Peter Handscomb dropped.
Top-order batsmen Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns have also been recalled with Australia ringing the changes after losing a home series to India for the first time.
Pucovski, 20, has played just eight first-class matches and opted to take a break from the game late last year to receive treatment for a mental health-related illness, shortly after scoring 243 for Victoria against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield.
"Will Pucovski is an exciting young player who is making his mark in the Sheffield Shield," said Australia selector Trevor Hohns added. "He is a player with a track record of making centuries. We look forward to him joining the squad."
"Ultimately Aaron, Peter, Shaun and Mitch have not produced the performances expected of them with the bat at Test level. They have been given good opportunity but have not produced the scores we need.
"All four are very good players, and the door is by no means closed for them to return to play Test cricket for Australia.
"The challenge now is for them to make runs for Australia in the upcoming ODIs (against India), and then to go back to the Sheffield Shield and make more runs."
Australia will play Sri Lanka in Brisbane from January 24 and then in Canberra from January 31 in their final Test series before the Ashes in England, which start at Edgbaston on August 1.
Australia squad: Marcus Harris, Joe Burns, Matthew Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Will Pucovksi, Marnus Labuschagne, Tim Paine (captain), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle
Watch Australia take on England in the Ashes and Women's Ashes this summer - only on Sky Sports Cricket.
