Australia Test Squad Adds Harper And Maddinson For Durban

Sam Harper and Nic Maddinson have been added to the Australia Test squad in South Africa, taking the group to 18 before the first Test in Durban. That match starts on 9 October. Josh Inglis is out of it with a fractured finger. Cameron Green is still being assessed. Harper arrives as keeping cover. Maddinson arrives as a batting option.

Inglis fractured the finger during the one day series that preceded the Tests. Selectors will look at him again for the second Test. That one is in Gqeberha. Alex Carey is the squad's other wicketkeeper.

Harper and Maddinson join the squad

Harper scored 128 for Australia A against India A this week. The match was in Puducherry. Maddinson has not played a Test since 2016.

ABC News reported that Harper was the second leading run scorer in last season's Sheffield Shield. He made 677 runs at 35.63. His century in Puducherry came days before the call up.

Chief selector George Bailey put both additions down to flexibility. "Sam gives us wicketkeeping cover as Josh continues his recovery, while Nic provides flexibility throughout the batting order," he said, in comments reported by ABC News.

• Pat Cummins (captain)
• Steve Smith (vice-captain)
• Scott Boland
• Alex Carey (wicketkeeper)
• Cooper Connolly
• Cameron Green
• Sam Harper
• Josh Hazlewood
• Travis Head
• Josh Inglis (second Test onwards)
• Matthew Kuhnemann
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Nathan Lyon
• Nic Maddinson
• Michael Neser
• Matt Renshaw
• Mitchell Starc
• Beau Webster

Injuries thin the batting group

Green picked up a lower abdominal strain. It happened while he was batting in the third one day international at Potchefstroom. Medical staff will assess him over the coming week. ABC News reported that he has not bowled on this tour.

Renshaw took a blow to the right hand in the same match. He is expected to be available. Australia therefore carry two fitness questions into the series opener. One absence is already confirmed. Inglis is the player ruled out.

Maddinson's decade away

Maddinson last played a Test in 2016. The years since have been spent in Australian domestic cricket. ABC News reported a score of 126 for New South Wales last week. That came in a one day match against Victoria.

Harper's route was shorter. He went into the touring A squad and made runs at once. Maddinson came back through state cricket. Both names were already inside the Australian system.

The Championship picture

The series sits inside the 2025 to 2027 World Test Championship. Australia lead the table. South Africa are second. The two sides play three Tests in October.

• First Test, 9 to 13 October, Durban
• Second Test, 18 to 22 October, Gqeberha
• Third Test, 27 to 31 October

Australia begin in Durban without Inglis. Green remains unresolved. Harper and Maddinson give the selectors two more names on the team sheet.