SYDNEY — Australia will take four spin-bowling options to India for its four-Test tour, with Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith named Thursday in a 17-man squad alongside Nathan Lyon and Xavier Doherty. The first Test starts on Feb. 22 in Chennai and national selector John Inverarity said they would be ready for all conditions, with five pace bowlers also included. “This squad has the flexibility that will be required for the varying conditions expected in India, and it will provide valuable experience to a number of young players,” he said. “The squad includes a spin bowling all-rounder in Maxwell and a medium-fast all-rounder in Moises Henriques. In aiming for more depth in a bowling attack, the squad would allow for three pace bowlers, a leading spinner and Maxwell, or two pace bowlers, the two spinners and Henriques. These are two of the options.” Doherty earned selection after recent good form and in the absence of injured left-arm orthodox spinners Michael Beer and Jon Holland. “We certainly feel he is much improved in the longer format of the game since he made his Test debut in 2010-11 against England,” Inverarity said of Doherty. “He adds further flexibility to the squad, depending on the conditions.” The pace attack is led by Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Jackson Bird. Squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Moises Henriques, James Pattinson, Xavier Doherty, Jackson Bird, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith. — Agencies
