Australia have unveiled a 13-member for the series opener of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, with a surprise inclusion of Josh Inglis. Here’s why the wicketkeeper-batter has earned a Test call-up.
Inglis is one of the two uncapped players included for the curtain-raiser in Perth that starts on November 22. Nathan McSweeney, who captained Australia A during their 2-0 victory against India A, is the other cricketer to receive his maiden Test call-up. McSweeney leapfrogged several other contenders like Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas, all part of the unofficial Tests, to seal the opener’s spot.
While Inglis’ selection may look like a bolt from the blue, it has some merit. He has been one of the most in-form players in the Sheffield Shield, with two hundreds from as many games. The knocks also came at a rapid rate. Against Queensland, the Western Australia cricketer smashed a 117-ball 122, including seven fours and two sixes, followed by another quickfire 48 off 56 balls in the second innings.
A 101 at a strike-rate of 71.63 in the next game against Tasmania powered his team to a six-wicket win. Inglis also took six catches behind the stumps to complement his purple patch with the bat.
Last month, New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd endorsed Inglis for the opener’s role left vacant by David Warner’s departure. "His performances for Australia have been first-class, and I think they're looking for a style of player at the top of the order, and Inglis may fit that brief,” Shipperd stated.
With white-ball experience under his belt, the pinnacle of which was Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup triumph, Inglis has all the strokes to succeed in the longest format, feels Shipperd.
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"He's a right-handed version of David Warner, in terms of someone who wants to get on with the play and he's got strokes all around the wicket. He's played at the level internationally, and I think he's a well-respected player."
The 29-year-old has been Australia’s first-choice ODI and T20I wicketkeeper but is yet to play Test cricket, where Alex Carey has been a regular feature. With 452 runs at 90.4 in the current Sheffield Shield season so far, Carey is the leading run-getter. Inglis isn’t far behind, with 297 runs at 99.0.
Inglis captained Australia for the first time in the third ODI against Pakistan and will do the same for the upcoming T20Is before joining the Test squad. While Carey as the designated gloveman and McSweeney as an opener in Australia's XI for the Perth Test are certain, Inglis’ form as a spare batter will come in handy if any injury concerns arise for the hosts.
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