21 Feb 2013

Moises Henriques to debut for Australia

5:59 am on 21 February 2013

New South Weslhman Moises Henriques has won the race for the all-rounders spot in the Australian cricket team and will make his debut in the first Test against India in Chennai tomorrow.

Henriques has been in solid form with the bat in Australia's two warm-up matches, scoring 16 and 33 in addition to taking 4 for 12 and 1 for 30 with the ball.

The 26-year-old was named ahead of fellow uncapped player Glenn Maxwell, who has been named 12th man.

Victoria's James Pattinson, whose Test summer was cut short by a side injury, has been recalled as the third fast bowler alongside Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle.

The tourists will field only one frontline spinner - Nathan Lyon - and will rely on captain Michael Clarke and David Warner to share the slow-bowling load.

Clarke has overcome a hamstring complaint while opening batsman Warner will play despite not having fully recovered from a fractured thumb.

Star all-rounder Shane Watson's injury dramas, which will see the Test vice-captain play this series as a batsman only, have fast-tracked the rise of the big-hitting right-hander.