The fact that Cricket Australia let Matt Renshaw go shows that they are happy with how the team is doing in the current game. David Warner’s spot was the only thing that was up for debate before the series started, but the southpaw has played well so far, so he has kept his spot for now. Renshaw will stay in England and be one of the backup players.
Nathan Lyon, a veteran off-spinner, will not be able to play in the Ashes in 2023. He tore his right calf while catching on Day 2 of the Lord’s Test. Youngster Todd Murphy is set to play in his first Ashes match on July 6 at Headingley. The team management hasn’t confirmed the news yet, but it looks like it will happen. The picks haven’t said who will replace Lyon for the rest of the games, but Mitchell Swepson and Matthew Kuhnemann are still the frontrunners. Notably, Lyon’s injury ended his incredible run of playing in 100 straight Test matches. He is only the sixth person in Test history and the only bowler to do this amazing thing.
Even though Lyon was hurt, he walked out to bat on Day 4, which earned him a lot of praise from the cricket community because the player was barely able to walk. On the other hand, Murphy, the only other spinner who can be chosen, was amazing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. He has played in four Test matches for his country and has taken 14 wickets.
According to ESPNcricinfo, he is about to play in his first Ashes Test. But the 22-year-old doesn’t have much experience as the only spinner in the oldest version of the game. He has only done it twice in first-class cricket, so the team management will have to help the player in the third match of the series. Matt Renshaw is taken off the team for the rest of the matches.
Marcus Harris and Mitchell Marsh, on the other hand, kept their spots on the team as backup batters and all-rounders. Still, there is no clear news about when Josh Inglis will be back, so Jimmy Pierson has kept his spot on the 16-person team.
Australia playing XI
Pat Cummins (c), Steven Smith (vc), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Todd Murphy, Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Marcus Harris, Mitchell Marsh, and Jimmy Peirson (wk).
India
