After suffering two humiliating defeats in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia are aiming to return back strongly and win the last two matches to end the series on level terms. Australia selector Tony Dodemaide indicated the same and stated that the team is desperate to get a result in the remaining two matches, to eventually stay alive in the World Test Championship (WTC) final’s race.
“We’re worried about what we can get out of these remaining two Tests, obviously that’s a clear focus for us at the moment. We’ll address the Ashes planning (at a later time), but we are committed to picking the best fit and available players for Test series, particularly something as big as the Ashes,” Dodemaide said on Wednesday as quoted by the West Australian.
“That’s not a question that we’ve addressed so far. We are very keen, as everyone I’m sure at home would be, for us to get something out of this remaining series. We can still draw the series here, but it’s a tough ask in order to do that, there’s no doubt about that. Also for the World Test Championship, we’re desperate to get a result out of these last two games,” the former cricketer added.
Dodemaide explains reason behind Ashton Agar’s exclusion
“With Mitchell Swepson coming back as well that will essentially give us five spinners in the squad for the remaining two Tests, which is probably too many, really, saving an absolute disaster.
Ashton’s worked incredibly hard when he was here, he’s done his absolute best to support the team and we acknowledge all the work that he’s done over here. He’s really tried his backside off,” Dodemaide said.
