Last chance to complete unfinished business in India, England and South Africa has Smith & Co primed for 21 Tests in 12 Months

PL on the Bangladesh squad and the long road ahead

Smith captured by Et Al during the Sri Lanka series 2024

Change comes slowly to the Australian Test team, but when that dam does, eventually, burst, there will be scenes. Until then, let’s just enjoy the calm waters, sunny skies and familiar company.

The 13-man squad for the first of the two Test series against Bangladesh next month looks for all the world just like the 15-man squad for the first Ashes Test of the summer past. And ain’t that a good thing? When you’re losing, you chop, change and gamble; when you’re on a roll, you gather a tight squad and change only when a hamstring pings or a back breaks.

There was churn, but all the familiar faces are back and reportedly back in fine fettle.

Australia managed to beat England 4-1 despite the absences of Cummins for four of those Tests, Hazlewood for the entire summer and Lyon, who was left out in Brisbane and injured in Adelaide.

Cummins is the only addition to those named for Perth last November. Usman Khawaja is absent, retired. Doggett, Abbott and Todd Murphy have all been preparing with the squad in Brisbane.

“While this is a 13-player squad, we have players prepared and available should any adjustments be required in the lead up to these matches,” selector George Bailey said.

“As previously stated, the volume of cricket and schedule across the next 12 months are likely to present further opportunities across all formats for many players.”

The series sees the reunion of the Big Four for the first time since last July’s second Test against the West Indies. Lyon (38), Boland (37), Starc (36) and Cummins (33) are not getting any younger, and cannot realistically be expected to be fit and available for the 21 Tests scheduled across the next 12 months, but are ready to go a few weeks out from the start of the Bangladesh series on August 13.

Australia squad for Bangladesh Tests: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.