Australia, for the Gabba ashes test match, has reselected the majority of the players who had lost a test series against India at home last summer, but a few new inclusions have made it interesting as far as the final selection of their playing XI is concerned.
It’s very much possible that the Australian think tank might reconsider the spots of a couple of experienced players who have struggled with their form in the longest format of the game in the last little while.
Here is what the strongest XI of Australia could look like in the first Ashes test against England –
Openers (David Warner, Usman Khawaja)
While David Warner is a lock at the top of the order for Australia on home pitches, their second choice could be Usman Khawaja ahead of Marcus Harris, as Khawaja has scored a couple of hundreds in the Sheffield Shield and will be carrying some good form into the Ashes. Since the left-hander also has the experience of facing England attacks in the past, it might be an added advantage.
Middle Order (Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head)
There can’t be any question marks over the selection of Labuschagne and Smith as they are not just Australia’s two best batsmen, they are probably two of the best test batsmen in the world at this point, and together they make Australian batting a formidable force.
Travis Head had almost played himself out of test consideration with dismal returns against India last summer, but decent Shield performances recently have earned him a place in the Ashes squad again, and he might get a look-in at Gabba at no. 5.
All-rounder and wicketkeeper (Cameron Green and Tim Paine)
Cameron Green has been identified as a long term all-around option in test cricket by the Australian selectors and even though he couldn’t do as much against India as expected, he has still been preferred over Mitchell Marsh, and he will most likely bat at no. 6 in the first Ashes Test.
Tim Paine will be a straightforward pick for the wicketkeeper’s slot, despite the latest controversy causing his resignation from captaincy, as he is still the only wicketkeeper in the squad which has been announced.
Bowlers (Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood)
While Cummins, Lyon and Hazlewood are the absolute certainties in the XI based on recent form, Australia might make a bold call of picking Jhye Richardson ahead of Mitchell Starc as Richardson has taken 23 wickets in 4 Sheffield Shield games this season at an average of 13.43, while Starc has been off-colour in test cricket for a while now.
