PAK vs AUS: Australia's Predicted Playing XI Against Pakistan, Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test  

After a gap of 24 years, Australia are set to play a Test match in Pakistan. The first Test of the three-match series is slated to be played from 4^th March to 8^th March 2022 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Pat Cummins will lead the side for an overseas tour for the first time since becoming the full-time Test captain. Here’s a look at our predicted playing XI of the Australia Cricket Team for the first Test.

PAK vs AUS: Australia’s Predicted Playing XI Against Pakistan, Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test

Openers: David Warner and Usman Khawaja

David Warner had a fairly good Ashes series. He managed to score 273 runs in 5 matches at an average of 34.12. He will be playing his first Test series in Pakistan. It will be interesting to see he could adapt to the conditions on offer and give them good starts at the top of the order.

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Warner is likely to partner up with David Warner. Khawaja made an outstanding comeback in Tests as he scored 2 centuries in 2 innings during the Ashes series. In 2 matches, he managed to score 255 runs at 85.00.

Middle-Order: Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head and Alex Carey

In-form Marnus Labushchgne will hold key to Australia’s fortunes in the series. He is the man in form and it’s important that he continues that form in the upcoming Test series. Marnuschagne was the second-highest run-getter in the Ashes series.

However, the one who topped the run-charts was Travis Head. The Australian cricketer wreaked havoc during the Ashes series. In 4 matches, he scored 357 runs at an average of 59.50. Steve Smith, though, had a series to forget but you can’t keep a player like him quiet for too long.

All-rounders: Cameron Green

Australia have picked both Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green in the 18-man squad for the series. However, they are likely to persist with Green as he has done nothing wrong in the matches that he has played so far. Green gave good support to the bowling unit and also played crucial knocks with the bat in the Ashes series. He should make it into the playing XI for the first Test.

Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland

Pat Cummins will lead the side in what will be his first overseas tour as captain of the Australian Test side. Mitchell Starc was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Ashes series, claiming 19 wickets in 5 Tests at 25.37.

Josh Hazlewood could only play a single Test in the series due to injury and in his absence, Scott Boland performed admirably. He managed to pick 18 wickets in 3 Tests at 9.56. His performance could tempt the team to persist with him at the expense of Hazlewood for the first Test. Nathan Lyon is likely to be the only spinner making into the playing XI for the first Test.