ICC Australia: The Long Road

[Dav]

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With the debacle of South Africa behind them, the Australian Test side embarks on what will prove to be one of the hardest eras in their history, led by new captain Tim Paine. Paine has been given the unenviable task of cobbling together a competitive side to take to the UAE to face Pakistan, and to lead a ramshackle Australian line-up through the summer against India.

 

[Dav]

Squad to tour UAE vs Pakistan announced
Tim Paine's first Australian squad has been announced, with the side set to head to the United Arab Emirates to take on Pakistan in 2 Tests. It's one of the most inexperienced squads for some time and the first to exclude sandpaper conspirators Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

*Tests played in brackets

Batsmen
Joe Burns (14)
Peter Handscomb (13)
Usmain Khawaja (33)
Marnus Labuschagne (0)
Shaun Marsh (32)
Matt Renshaw (11)

Wicketkeepers
Alex Carey (0)
Tim Paine (c) (13)

All-Rounders
Ashton Agar (4)
Mitch Marsh (28)
Glenn Maxwell (7)

Bowlers
Jackson Bird (0)
Patrick Cummins (14)
Josh Hazlewood (40)
Nathan Lyon (78)
Peter Siddle (62)
Mitch Starc (43)
Chris Tremain (0)

 

[Dav]

First Test vs Pakistan | 1st XI

No  Player                M      Ba      Bo
Op  Joe Burns            14   36.76   -----
Op  Matt Renshaw         11   33.47   -----
 3  Usmain Khawaja       33   42.00   -----
 4  Shaun Marsh          32   37.60   -----
 5  Peter Handscomb      13   43.63   ----- 
 6  Mitch Marsh          28   27.86   42.06
 7  Tim Paine (wk) (c)   13   40.82   -----
 8  Patrick Cummins      14   20.28   23.82
 9  Mitchell Starc       43   21.69   28.18
10  Nathan Lyon          78   11.71   32.22
11  Chris Tremain         0   -----   -----

The XI to face Pakistan in the First Test in the UAE has been released, with just two changes from the last side that faced South Africa in April. Josh Hazlewood is omitted through injury, having dislocated a finger in the nets earlier this week, and will be replaced by Test debutant Chris Tremain who has been rewarded for his strong Shield form. Chadd Sayers has been omitted from the Test squad and facilitates the return of Mitch Starc to the line-up.

 

[The Half Back]

Usmain haha.