Pat Cummins returns as Australia name full-strength squad for Bangladesh Tests

MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday announced a full-strength 13-member squad for the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled to be played from August 13 to 26.

The squad marked the return of Australia's regular captain Pat Cummins, who missed the majority of their blockbuster Ashes series against traditional rivals England due to a lumbar stress reaction earlier this year.

Cummins will join fellow experienced speedsters Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the Australia squad, which further includes back-up pacer Scott Boland, alongside all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster.

In another major boost for the home side, experienced right-arm spinner Nathan Lyon will make his return in the upcoming series against Bangladesh after missing the last two Tests of their home Ashes against England last year.

Australia, however, will be on the lookout to fill the void left by left-handed opener Usman Khawaja's retirement earlier this year, with Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald all included as batting options for the former ICC World Test Championship (WTC) winners.

Chief of Australia's National Selection Panel (NSP), George Bailey, welcomed the return of experienced players Cummins and Lyon, whom he hailed for working "extremely hard" to overcome their respective injuries.

Bailey also addressed concerns regarding Australia naming 13 players in their squad instead of the usual 15, emphasising that they have a host of players prepared and available should any adjustments be required.

"The NSP look forward to the return of Pat, Josh and Nathan. They have worked extremely hard, individually and with the SSSM (sports science and sports medicine) teams, over the past few months to return from their respective injuries," Bailey said.

"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.

"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."

It is pertinent to mention that the two-match series, part of the current WTC 2025-27 cycle, will get underway with the opening fixture scheduled to be played in Darwin from August 13 to 17, while Mackay will host the subsequent game from August 22 to 26.

For the unversed, Australia are at the summit in the WTC 2025-27 standings with 84 points in eight matches, while Bangladesh are placed fourth with 28 points in four games.

Australia squad for Test series against Bangladesh:

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 and Beau Webster.