Cricket: Australia name uncapped Maxwell and Henriques for India tour

MELBOURNE (REUTERS) - Australia have named a trio of unproven all-rounders in their Test squad for the tour of India and thrown a life-line to discarded spinner Xavier Doherty as they scramble to find a winning combination ahead of back-to-back Ashes campaigns.

Following Mike Hussey's retirement, the selectors have gambled on uncapped all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Moises Henriques with the duo set to vie for the veteran batsman's No. 6 spot during the four-Test series starting in February.

Five-Test all-rounder Steven Smith was also named in the 17-man squad released on Thursday, two years after being dumped in the wake of Australia's 2010-11 Ashes humbling by England on home soil.

Two-test Doherty, another casualty of that series, will be expected to provide support for fellow spinner Nathan Lyon in India, where Australia have not won a Test since 2004.