Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw will square off in an old-fashioned bat-off during next month’s Prime Minister’s XI match against Pakistan in Canberra.
On Thursday afternoon, Cricket Australia unveiled its squad for the annual Prime Minister’s XI contest, which gets underway at Manuka Oval on Wednesday, December 6.
Bancroft, Harris and Renshaw, the leading contenders to replace David Warner in the Test side this summer, have each been named in the starting XI, which includes six players with international experience.
South Australia’s Nathan McSweeney will captain the side, joined by Ashes squad members Cameron Green, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser and Jimmy Peirson.
Tasmania’s Beau Webster has been rewarded for his stellar domestic form, cracking 487 runs at 97.40 in the Sheffield Shield this summer, while Australia A representatives Nathan McAndrew and Mark Steketee round out the Prime Minister’s XI squad.
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“We’re pleased to reward some of our leading first-class performers over multiple seasons with an opportunity to face quality international opposition,” chair of selectors George Bailey said in a statement.
“Selection in the Prime Minister’s XI is a great honour for any cricketer and plays an important part of our men’s representative program, along with recent Australia A series.
“With a heavy workload of Test cricket coming this summer, this match provides an opportunity to continue to build depth around our national red ball squad.
“We thank Prime Minister Albanese for his input into the squad’s selection that aligns with the traditions of the match with some of the country’s most exciting developing cricketers mixed with some highly experienced players.”
Warner has signalled his intent to retire after January’s New Year’s Test at the SCG, creating a vacancy at the top of the order.
Bancroft was the leading run-scorer of last summer’s Sheffield Shield with 945 runs at 59.06, and the West Australian has continued that impressive form into the current season by smacking hundreds against Victoria and South Australia.
Meanwhile, Harris and Renshaw featured in Australia’s recent Ashes squad, with the former also earning a national contract earlier this year.
After starting his Sheffield Shield season with a string of low scores, Harris returned to form with a classy 164 against Tasmania Junction Oval earlier this month.
Renshaw has already made two Test appearances this year, against South Africa in January and against India in February, but his most recent Sheffield Shield scores for Queensland have been 3, 2 and 3.
“Opening is such a fickle job,” Renshaw said on Wednesday.
“You can just nick off a couple of times early (but) I feel my game’s in good stead.
“I feel really good. It’s just unfortunate that sometimes as an opener you face the new ball and nick one.”
Prime Minister’s XI squad
Nathan McSweeney (c)
Cameron Bancroft
Cameron Green
Marcus Harris
Nathan McAndrew
Todd Murphy
Michael Neser
Jimmy Peirson
Matthew Renshaw
Mark Steketee
Beau Webster
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