Australia vs India 2018: Ricky Ponting Calls For a Change in the Australia XI for Sydney Test

Australia legend Ricky Ponting has called for a change in the Aussie playing XI for the Sydney Test saying that Aaron Finch should sit for the final Test against Indian National Cricket team. Instead, Ponting feels Usman Khawaja should open the innings while Marnus Labuschagne to slot into number four for the Sydney Test.

Meanwhile, Labuschagne made his debut against Pakistan in the UAE in October. Following India’s 137-run loss at Melbourne that saw India retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy, the selectors drafted Marnus Labuschagne in the squad. The top-order has been under the scanner with Aaron Finch and Mitchel Marsh fighting for their spot in the playing XI.

Ricky Ponting expects the Queenslander will come into Australia’s XI at Finch’s expense, with Khawaja to move up from No.3 to open with Marcus Harris, Shaun Marsh to go up to first drop ahead of Labuschagne and the rest of the incumbent middle order.

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“I’ve seen Labuschagne has come into the line-up so to me straightaway that means Finch has to miss out and Usman will open the batting, I’d imagine,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.

“That’s how it looks – Labuschagne probably bats four, (Travis) Head five and Mitch Marsh six – I think that’s the way they’re going to line up. I can’t really think what else they can do. The selectors and the captain and coach have obviously had a long chat about what they want and what they expect. We’ll see how they line up,” he added.

The SCG is traditionally Australia’s most spin-friendly Test venue and Ricky Ponting believes Marnus Labuschagne could play a role as the second spinner behind Nathan Lyon.

“He looked impressive a couple of times in the UAE in the Tests over there,” Ponting continued. (He) bowled well, which is something they’re probably thinking about for the SCG Test as well. To be honest I haven’t seen a lot of him … I’ll reserve my judgment until I see a little more,” he concluded.