Australia look set to field at least three debutants in their Test series-opener against Pakistan next week, as captain Tim Paine confirmed the side picked for their only warm-up match is a strong indication of what selectors see as their best XI.
While Paine insists "nothing is certain", the uncapped trio of Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Michael Neser have all firmed to receive Baggy Greens when the first Test begins at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 7.
All three have been picked in the tourists’ side to face Pakistan A in a four-day tour match starting Saturday at the nearby ICC Academy, with Finch set to open the batting, Head to bat at either the five or six position and Neser to share fast bowling duties with Mitchell Starc.
Left-armer Jon Holland also looks likely to play his first Test in more than two years after being chosen to partner Nathan Lyon in the practice game that has official first-class status.
Paceman Peter Siddle and batsman Marnus Labuschagne are the two main omissions, while uncapped speedster Brendan Doggett and spinner Ashton Agar, who had a minor shoulder niggle in the JLT Cup, have also been rested.
But Paine says the door to the Test XI is not shut for them.
"There are certainly still spots up for grabs (but) I wouldn't say there's a heap," the captain told cricket.com.au.
Australia v Pakistan in UAE, 2018
Teams : Australia, Pakistan, Pakistan A
Matches : 2 Tests, 3 T20s
Matches : 2 Tests, 3 T20s
Pakistan Squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Wahab Riaz, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Bilal Asif, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Abbas , Hasan Ali
Australia Squad
Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Aaron Finch, Tim Paine, Jon Holland, Mitchell Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Travis Head, Ashton Agar, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Brendan Doggett
0 Comments