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Aussies to field rookie in first Test?

Cape Town - Joe Mennie was the surprise inclusion in a 12-man Australian squad for the first Test against the Proteas in Perth, and he may even play in that match if an Aussie pundit is to be believed. 

The first Test gets underway at the WACA in Perth on November 3 and Sam Ferris, a journalist for the cricket.com.au website, believes that Mennie could play ahead of Peter Siddle. 

That might not be the worst news for the Proteas, who had a good look at Mennie in the recent ODI series on South African soil that the hosts won 5-0. 

Mennie, who is 27, played in just two of those ODIs in South Africa. Those are his only two appearances for Australia. 

In his first showing in Johannesburg, Mennie was smashed for figures of 0/82 (10) on debut while in the final ODI in Cape Town he was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 3/49 (10). 

Still uncapped at Test level, Mennie averages 26.94 in first class cricket. 

But the appeal of Mennie, Ferris says, is his impressive record at the WACA. 

In six Sheffield Shield matches for the Redbacks at the venue since 2011, "Mennie has captured 31 wickets at 21.65 runs apiece and striking every 43 deliveries."

"While Siddle boasts more Test experience (61 Tests to Mennie’s zero) and international wickets (226 against three) than Mennie, who has played two ODIs, the Victorian has just one Shield match under his belt since recovering from back stress fractures he suffered in February," Ferris wrote.

"Siddle’s Test numbers at the WACA are not as impressive as Mennie’s first-class figures, partly due to bowling against international batsmen on what’s been a benign pitch in recent seasons." 

Australia squad:

David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, John Hazlewood, Joe Mennie, Nathan Lyon

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