Will Sutherland, Cooper Connolly among top young cricketers on India tour

Eight emerging stars will go on the same Indian tour that helped launch Todd Murphy’s rapid rise to Test cricket.

Emerging all-rounder Will Sutherland and BBL final hero Cooper Connolly are among eight players selected for the same Indian tour that has kickstarted Todd Murphy’s international career.

Cricket Australia announced its squad on Tuesday for an intensive 12-day training camp at the MRF Academy in Chennai in a hint to the national selectors’ future plans as they try to expose Australia’s best prospects to Indian conditions.

Spin bowling trio Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann and Tanveer Sangha all completed the same tour last year, with Murphy and Kuhnemann using the tour to earn Test debuts in India in February.

Sangha also impressed selectors with his development on the tour and was picked in Australia’s 18-man preliminary World Cup squad on Monday despite missing the entire domestic summer with a back injury.

Victorian all-rounder Will Sutherland is one of eight Australian cricketers travelling to the MRF Academy in Chennai this month. Picture: Michael Dodge / AAP

Head of selectors George Bailey said Sangha had been on the panel’s radar “for a long time”.

“His Big Bash form when he’s been fit and playing has been excellent, so he’s one that we’re really impressed with (his) character, the way he prepares and thinks about the game,” Bailey said.

“The common comment around Tanveer is that he’s very mature on the field and a great thinker about how he goes about it.

“He had an unfortunate injury last year which meant that he lost a bit of game time, but the age he is and the skill-set he has I don’t think that’s going to set him back much.”

Connolly, who will turn 20 in August, blasted 25 from 11 balls to help the Perth Scorchers to the BBL title in February after facing just 11 balls for the tournament prior to the final.

He will make his second trip to the MRF Academy after joining WA teammates Josh Philippe and Teague Wyllie on last year’s tour, while Sutherland has recovered from a back stress fracture to join the squad.

Cooper Connolly played the decisive innings in February’s BBL final as he helped the Perth Scorchers to the title with 25 off 11 balls. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

The Victorian all-rounder, who starred as he led his state’s barnstorming run to the Sheffield Shield final earlier this year, was due to play for Essex in the County Championship and may have entered the frame for Ashes selection.

Batters Tim Ward (Tasmania), Nathan McSweeney (SA), Campbell Kellaway (Victoria) and Joel Davies (NSW), along with WA off-spinner Corey Rochiccioli and Victorian keeper Sam Harper, are the other players to tour.

Former Test wrist-spinner Beau Casson has been named head coach of the squad, with assistance from former Sri Lankan batter Thilan Samaraweera.

The squad members will join local cricketers to play in a T20, one-day match and two-day match during the trip from August 7 to 18.