AUS vs BAN 2nd Test: Australia make major change to squad after shock Bangladesh defeat

Australia have made one change to their squad for the second and final ICC World Test Championship match against Bangladesh in Mackay.

Opener Jake Weatherald has been left out of the 13-player squad, with left-hander Matthew Renshaw coming in as his replacement.

Renshaw gets Test recall

If selected, Renshaw will make his first Test appearance for Australia in more than three years.

The 30-year-old last played a Test in Delhi against India in 2023, when he came in as a concussion substitute for regular opener David Warner.

Renshaw has since represented Australia in both ODI and T20I cricket. He now returns to the Test squad after Australia’s top order struggled in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Australia were bowled out for just 198 in their first innings, while Weatherald managed scores of only 23 and zero in the match.

Labuschagne under pressure

Regular No.3 Marnus Labuschagne has retained his place in the squad. However, Australia coach Andrew McDonald admitted that the batter needs to score more runs to secure his place in the team.

“I think it was 31 he got in the second innings, and up until the point he got out, you’d sit there and say he was looking good,” McDonald said of Labuschagne.

“He was moving well, he’s clipping off his pads, he was getting back through the ball down the ground. So it’s easy for me to sit here and try to defend that, but ultimately it’s 31. It’s not a big score. He’s lacked runs. He feels that. We feel that. We’re working incredibly hard as a coaching group.”

Inglis, Boland retain places

Back-up wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and reserve bowler Scott Boland have also retained their places in the squad.

Both players could come into contention for the second Test, which begins on Saturday.

133315603

Australia squad vs Bangladesh

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.