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Melbourne: Cricket Australia on Sunday picked four spinners in its 16-man Test squad for the rigorous four-match series against India away starting on February 23, determined to strike a combination that will deliver at the spin-heavy sub-continental conditions.
Apart from off-spinner Nathan Lyon and left-arm spinner Stephen O'Keefe, other slow bowlers featuring in the squad are uncapped Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and recalled West Australia's left-arm spinner Ashton Agar.
The squad includes six batsman, four spin bowlers, three pace bowlers, two all-rounders and a wicket-keeper.
Speaking on the make-up of the squad, Interim National Selector Trevor Hohns said in a CA release that the panel chose an additional spin bowler to allow as many options as possible.
Talking about Swepson and Agar, he said: "Mitchell is an exciting young leg-spinner that has come through the pathway system. We feel he has a lot of potential and want to see him take his opportunity in conditions that should suit him should he get a chance."
Victoria's Glenn Maxwell and West Australia's Mitchell Marsh make up the all-rounders in the side.
Among the pace bowling options, Jackson Bird is the third choice behind Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
With the inclusion of only three fast-bowlers in the squad, the selectors will reassess the fast bowling stocks after the second Test in Bengaluru, according to the release.
West Australia's top-order batsman Shaun Marsh returns to the side following injury earlier in the summer.
Selected members of the squad will depart on January 29 for Dubai to train, before the remainder of the squad follow after the Chappell-Hadlee Series in New Zealand.
Squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner (vice-captain), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade.
