Full strength at last: Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon return as Australia name their Bangladesh squad

Australia have named a full-strength Test squad for the first time in a year, with captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all returning from injury for the two-match series against Bangladesh. The 13-man group, announced ahead of fixtures in Darwin and Mackay, restores the experienced core of an attack that had been badly depleted through a punishing Ashes campaign.

All three had been unavailable for Australia's most recent Test in Sydney in January, making their simultaneous return a significant boost as the side looks to consolidate its position at the top of the World Test Championship standings.

The big three are back

Cummins is in line to play his first Test since December last year, having been sidelined by injury through the latter stages of the home summer. His return restores not only a world-class fast bowler but also the leadership at the heart of the side.

Lyon comes back after missing much of the back end of the Ashes campaign against England with a hamstring problem, while Hazlewood's return is arguably the most welcome of all, given how much cricket he has missed in recent years through a succession of setbacks, most recently hamstring and Achilles issues.

Bailey praises the recovery work

National selector George Bailey was warm in his assessment of the trio's efforts to get back on the park. He said the National Selection Panel looked forward to the return of Pat, Josh and Nathan, noting that all three had worked extremely hard, both individually and with the sports science and sports medicine teams, over the past few months to come back from their respective injuries.

Bailey also indicated the squad remains flexible, explaining that while this is a 13-player group, Australia have players prepared and available should any adjustments be required in the lead-up to the matches.

A selection headache looms

The good news brings with it an awkward problem. With Cummins, Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Lyon and Scott Boland all fit and available, the selectors face a genuinely difficult call over which of them to leave out for the series opener at Marrara Stadium.

Boland has been a model of reliability whenever called upon, and Hazlewood's return places his place under direct threat. It is the kind of dilemma most sides would envy, but a tough conversation nonetheless for a bowler who has rarely let Australia down.

Neser the unlucky man

The returning trio come in at the expense of Michael Neser, who can consider himself desperately unfortunate. He featured in three of the five Ashes Tests, including the final two, and performed superbly in difficult circumstances.

Neser has been named on standby along with Todd Murphy and Brendan Doggett, both of whom were part of the Sydney squad without playing. It is a reminder of the depth Australia have built, even if it offers little consolation to those missing out.

Questions in the top six

Attention will also fall on the batting group, with Australia still searching for a settled answer to Usman Khawaja's retirement at the start of the year. Jake Weatherald has been retained as opener and will continue his partnership with Travis Head, a combination that produced four half-century stands during the Ashes.

The 31-year-old will, however, be keen for a substantial score, having managed just one half-century in his first ten Test innings while averaging 22.33 across the Ashes. Marnus Labuschagne stays at No. 3 with Steve Smith locked in at No. 4, while Josh Inglis has been named as the spare batter and wicketkeeper, having played two Ashes Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide as a specialist batter.

A historic tour for Bangladesh

For the visitors, this represents a significant occasion. It marks Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia since 2003, an enormous gap between visits and a formidable challenge against a side operating at full power.

The opening Test runs from August 13 to 17 at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, with the second following from August 22 to 26 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay — both relatively unfamiliar venues for red-ball cricket.

The bigger picture

Australia currently sit atop the World Test Championship standings and will be aiming to strengthen that position before sterner assignments later in the cycle, including tours of South Africa and England.

Bailey acknowledged the demands ahead, noting that the volume of cricket and the schedule across the next 12 months are likely to present further opportunities across all formats for many players. The Bangladesh series is the first instalment of a schedule that could see Australia play as many as 20 Tests over the next 11 months — potentially 21 with a WTC final.

Australia's squad

Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

Standby: Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Brendan Doggett.

The final word

Australia go into this series looking as formidable as they have in some time, with their premier bowlers finally fit and firing together. The challenge for Bangladesh, on their first Test visit in more than two decades, could scarcely be steeper. For the hosts, it is an ideal opportunity to bank points and build momentum ahead of a gruelling year — and a timely reminder of just how daunting a full-strength Australian attack can be.