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Two Test discards are reportedly in the frame to wear the baggy green again for one of Australia’s biggest series in years.
Matthew Renshaw and Peter Handscomb — who haven’t played Test cricket since March 2018 and January 2019 respectively — are being considered for Australia’s tour of India in February.
The Age reports that after strong starts to the Sheffield Shield season, and given Australia’s inconsistent form away from home, both are in the mix for a shock return.
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Handscomb already has two centuries from the first two matches of the season, including an unbeaten 281 — his best first class score — against Western Australia last week.
Renshaw also has an unbeaten double century to his name, making 200 not out against New South Wales in Drummoyne.
The 26-year-old is fresh off a strong season in England’s County Championship, where he made 620 runs at 47.69 for Somerset.
Handscomb was less impressive for Middlesex where he ended his season early with 220 runs at 31.42 on the board, although he was the Shield’s topscorer last summer with 697 runs at 49.78.
Australia’s Test team on home soil is settled after last summer’s 4-0 Ashes victory, but there remains opportunities for other players away.
Travis Head looks especially vulnerable in foreign conditions — he averages just 21.69 in away Tests, and made a high score of 26 across series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka this year.
But David Warner has also struggled, averaging 29.13 across those two tours.
Selectors appear to be open to changes in India after Australia drew its two-match series to Sri Lanka having been skittled for 151 on a turning track in Galle.
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Glenn Maxwell was a reserve in that series and is also a big chance to tour India, given his wealth of experience playing in the subcontinent, albeit largely in white ball formats.
Both Handscomb and Renshaw were part of Australia’s last Test of India in 2017 and the following trip to Bangladesh.
Renshaw has only played one Test since, and not again after suffering a concussion in a warm-up match before a Pakistan series in 2018, while Handscomb was dropped after the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar series.
Meanwhile, a name that could be in the mix for a Test debut is exciting young spinner Todd Murphy.
The 21-year-old has played just four first class matches but has impressed with 18 wickets at 30.44, including two three-wicket hauls against Western Australia last week.
Australia has long been on the hunt for a second spinner to partner Nathan Lyon, with Mitchell Swepson not making the most of his opportunities in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, taking 10 wickets at 45.80.
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