Konstas, Kellaway, Patterson named in CA XI for Bangladesh warm-up

Australia’s selectors have signalled their long-term intent at the top of the order, naming young openers Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway in a 14-man Cricket Australia XI to face Bangladesh in a three-day tour match in Darwin next month.

The fixture, which serves as a warm-up for the first Test starting on August 13, features a blend of emerging talent and a resurgent veteran, with Kurtis Patterson also included in the squad.

Konstas, 20, has already played five Tests for Australia but has not featured in the Test frame since a difficult tour of the Caribbean last winter. His Sheffield Shield form last summer offered encouragement, with 660 runs at an average of 33, finishing fifth on the run-scorers’ list. The tally included one century and two half-centuries.

Kellaway, 23, also registered a century and two fifties last season, though his overall returns were leaner, averaging 26.78 for the summer. Despite modest first-class records overall, the pair are viewed as long-term Test opening prospects. They opened together in two matches for Australia A in India last year, sharing stands of 198 and an unbroken 56 in the first unofficial Test against India A in Lucknow.

The inclusion of Patterson, 33, underscores his remarkable career resurgence. After struggling in Shield cricket despite an unbeaten Test century in his final Test innings against Sri Lanka in 2019, Patterson has averaged 48 across 23 first-class matches over the past two years. He has made four centuries in that period, including one for Australia A against England Lions, and remains in the selectors’ thoughts as a possible Test middle-order option.

Cricket Australia has named the CA XI squad to face Bangladesh in a three-day match in Darwin next month, as well as an emerging Australian squad for the MRF Academy Program in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/hEqOnhWq45

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) July 22, 2026

Western Australia offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli has also been named, a selection that carries significance ahead of Australia A and Test tours of India scheduled for September and January respectively. Rocchiccioli has been the leading spinner in Shield cricket over the past five seasons with 151 wickets at 29.16, though he remains behind CA-contracted duo Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann in the Test pecking order.

Wicketkeeper-batters Josh Philippe and Jake Doran have been included, alongside a relatively youthful pace attack. The team will be coached by former Australia coach and current Under-19 mentor Tim Nielsen.

In a separate development, South Australia batter Jason Sangha and Australia’s newest T20I player Joel Davies headline a group of 12 development players heading to Chennai for the annual MRF Academy Program. Former Australia captain Tim Paine will mentor the group, which also includes leg spinner Lloyd Pope, former Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Hugh Weibgen, and current Under-19 batter Steven Hogan.

CA XI squad:

Campbell Kellaway, Campbell Thompson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Hanno Jacobs, Jake Doran, Jerrssis Wadia, Josh Philippe, Kurtis Patterson, Sam Konstas, Teague Wyllie, Tom Menzies, Tom Rogers, Xavier Crone, Noah McFadyen.

                                               

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