Australia vs India 2018-19: Australia Announce Playing Eleven For Adelaide Test
Updated - 09 Jan 2019, 06:51 PM
Australia, on Wednesday, announced their playing eleven for the first Test against India. Skipper Tim Paine confirmed uncapped opener Marcus Harris will make his debut while middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb will feature in the playing eleven ahead of vice-captain Mitchell Marsh.
On the eve of the much-awaited series-opener, Paine told the media that Aaron Finch will open the innings alongside Harris. With no Marsh in the team, Australia will have to rely on their four frontline bowlers – Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon – to do the task.
Paine said that Marsh’s inconsistent displays cost him his place. The skipper also said that the team-management would release him so that the allrounder could get some match practise through Sheffield Shield.
“We know he’s good enough to be a great allrounder at Test level but hasn’t quite put it together at Test level yet.”
“As this series wears on and you get to places where the wicket is a bit flatter and conditions a bit warmer and bowlers a little more tired, he might have more of a role to play.
“We’ll send him back to Shield, get some more cricket under his belt knowing at some stage we’re probably going to need him.
He further sounded confident that his four specialist bowlers could do the work against the world number one Test side.
“The (Adelaide Oval) wicket over the last few years here has given enough throughout the game. We’ve got a lot of confidence in Nathan Lyon bowling the overs we need and all three of our quicks are going in very fresh.”
With Finch and Harris opening, Usman Khawaja will bat at number three followed by Shaun Marsh. At number five, Handscomb will take charge while newcomer Travis Head will bat at number six. Skipper Tim Paine takes the number seven spot.
The Adelaide Test gets underway from December 6.
Australia XI for first Test:
Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c,wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood (vc)
