Sydney: Australia selectors have dropped George Bailey from the test squad to tour South Africa next month, opting instead for uncapped batsman Alex Doolan and a resurgent Shaun Marsh.
Bailey played in all five of Australia's Ashes tests against England this summer but performed only moderately, scoring 183 runs at an average of 26 with a highest score of 53.
Shaun Marsh has been recalled to the Australia team after a two-year absence. Marsh played the most-recent of his seven tests against India in January, 2012 but has won back his place after a series of strong one-day performances.
Fast bowlers James Pattinson and Jackson Bird have also been named in the 15-man squad after missing the Ashes series, while Nathan Coulter-Nile has been omitted.
Chairman of selectors John Inverarity said the decision to omit Bailey was difficult, but Doolan and Marsh were thought likely to be more at home in South African conditions.
"This was a difficult decision but on this occasion we felt Alex and Shaun have games that are well suited to facing South Africa in South Africa," Inverarity said. "We consider that both are strong players of pace bowling which is important given the strength of South Africa's attack.
