CHENNAI, Feb 20: Australia on Wednesday named Portugal-born all-rounder Moises Henriques for his debut in Friday’s first Test against India here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

Henriques has been in solid form with the bat in Australia’s two warm-up matches, scoring 16 and 33 in addition to taking 4-12 and 1-30 with the ball.

The 26-year-old has won the race for the all-rounder’s spot ahead of fellow uncapped player Glenn Maxwell, the off-spinning all-rounder who’s been named as the 12th man.

James Pattinson, whose Test summer Down Under was cut short by a side injury, has been recalled as the third fast bowler alongside Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle.

The tourists will field only one frontline spinner — Nathan Lyon — and will rely on captain Michael Clarke and David Warner to share the slow-bowling load.

Clarke has overcome a hamstring complaint while opening batsman Warner will play despite not having fully recovered from a fractured thumb.

“It has happened very quickly. It wasn’t really in my list of goals at the start of this first-class season,” Henriques told reporters on Wednesday.

Star all-rounder Shane Watson’s injury dramas, which will see the Test vice-captain play this four-Test series as a batsman only, have fast-tracked the rise of the big-hitting right-hander.

“I can’t say how much I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” Henriques said. “Mickey [coach/selector Mickey Arthur] came into my room last night and told me the news. “There’s been a lot of injuries and in amongst those injuries there has been some inconsistent form.

“I never thought it [Test cricket] had passed me by. I always felt that once I could stay on the park for long enough, the rest would take care of itself.

“That if I was good enough, it would all come to fruition.”

Henriques will become only the second Portugal-born Test cricketer after Dick Westcott who played in five Tests for South Africa in the 1950s.—Agencies