Two Debutants Named in Australia's XI for the 1st Test against Sri Lanka, Joe Burns Returns

Australia has recalled Joe Burns to open the innings in the first Test against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the hosts have also named two debutants on the list, Jhye Richardson and Kurtis Patterson. The XI even has another change from the last game against India at the SCG. Vice-captain, Josh Hazlewood’s name is nowhere to be found as well. However, the Test at the Gabba, Brisbane will be a Day/Night affair; it begins on Thursday (January 23rd).

New faces for Australia in the D/N Test

Peter Siddle has been named as the 12th man while Matthew Renshaw and Victoria batter Will Pucovski will have to wait for their turn. As Australia, for the first time in their 71 year history against India at home; surrendered the Tests, a few changes were always there on the cards. Though Tim Paine has retained his position as the skipper of the Australia team, the vice-captains for the India Tests; Mitchell Marsh and Hazlewood didn’t make it to the XI.

Moreover, the performers in the past India Tests, Marcus Harris and Travis Head have been named in the XI as well. Kurtis Patterson, the one who scored twin centuries in a warm-up game against Sri Lanka earned his maiden call-up.

Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja has been a talking point after his failures in the India series. Although he struggled to get going, the selectors have thrown their trust behind him, and thus have retained him for the first Test against Sri Lanka.

In the bowling department, Jhye Richardson will make his debut. The pacer hogged limelight after bowling well in the India ODIs; getting their captain, Virat Kohli thrice in as many games. Apart from him, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon are there.

Here is Australia’s XI for the 1st Test against Sri Lanka –

Marcus Harris, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Kurtis Patterson, Tim Paine (c/wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon.