Matt Renshaw, Ashton Agar end lengthy absence as Scott Boland misses out for Sydney Test
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Matt Renshaw and Ashton Agar will both end their lengthy Test absences, with the pair selected for the Sydney clash against South Africa.
With injuries to both Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green, as well as a mysterious SCG pitch, will see the Aussies head into the third and final match with the Proteas with a deep batting lineup.
Renshaw will slot into the middle-order, playing his first Test since April 2018, with his 11 matches to date producing three fifties and one century.
The 26-year-old scored his only Test ton in Sydney, producing a fantastic 184 against Pakistan in this fixture five years ago, and makes his return off the back of strong form in the Sheffield Shield competition.
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Agar will act as the second spinner for Australia and will end a five-year hiatus from the Test arena, with his last time donning the Baggy Green coming back in September 2017 against Bangladesh.
It will be the first Test appearance on home soil for Agar, whose previous appearances for Australia came in the sub-continent and England.
The other major change to the side will see Scott Boland dropped in favour of a returning Josh Hazlewood, who missed the first two Tests due to a side strain.
Boland has been impressive all summer and improved his Test record to 28 wickets in just six matches, with his average sitting at just 12.21 with the ball.
The absence of Starc, Boland and Green will see the Aussies head into the match with just two seamers, leaving plenty of overs likely falling to the returning Agar as well as Nathan Lyon.
Pat Cummins confirmed the final XI for the Aussies at the toss, with the skipper opting to bat first, and believes this is a good opportunity to look at some fresh faces before the all-important tour of India.
“It looks like a traditional SCG wicket, it might turn a little bit and it will probably be at its best on day one,” he said.
“We’ve got three changes – Cam Green and Starcy are obviously injured and Scotty misses out on this one. It is always difficult, especially having someone like Scotty who has done fantastically well for us.
“We thought about it, but it comes down to whether we are confident of taking 20 wickets with the four guys and in this case we are.
“It’s the luxury we have with the unfortunate injuries, this is probably the closest we’re going to get to India here in Australia.”