Ashes 2019: Alex Carrey Recalled as Australia Make Changes for their Final Tour Game

Australia to rest seven players from their squad for the final tour game of the Ashes 2019 against county side Derbyshire.

Captain and wicket-keeper Tim Paine, batsmen David Warner and Travis Head as well as bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon will all be rested ahead of the final two Test matches of the series.

Resting seven players in a seventeen man squad that was initially travelling to England would mean that they would be a player short for the tour game. Alex Carey, who has impressed in the latest World Cup, was recalled to keep wickets in the absence of Paine. Paine’s absence will also mean that the Australian team will be led by a different player. Usman Khwaja, according to Cricket Australia, will captain the Australia XI against Derbyshire.

Marnus Labuschange, who became the first man to remain as the highest scorer in his first three innings of an Ashes series, was also included in the tour game, while Steve Smith will play to prove his match fitness, after being ruled out of the third test.

Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, who hasn’t played a game in the series so far, will feature in the tour game, with an expectation to be called for the next test match. He will be joined by Peter Siddle, Michael Nesser and Mitchell Marsh to form Australia’s pace attack, while they have to rely on the part time options of Steve Smith and Labuschagne if they need a spinner.

The tour game will also be a test for the middle-order batsmen with Smith highly likely to return to play the fourth test, and Labuschagne cementing his place.

Australia XI to face Derbyshire: Usman Khawaja (c), Cameron Bancroft, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, Matthew Wade