A number of injuries could seriously hurt Australia’s chances against Pakistan later this year.
With the side already missing Steve Smith, David Warner and Cam Bancroft due to the suspension related to the ball tampering incident, Australia look set to lose another six players to injury.
Bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Mitch Marsh haven’t played since the fourth Test in South Africa. All three are in doubt for the Pakistan series due to injury.
In further bad news for the Aussies, Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw and Shaun Marsh all picked up injuries playing county cricket and remain in doubt for the Pakistan Test series. Burns and Renshaw had looked set to use the opportunity to push their claims for a Test spot.
In brighter news for Australian cricket fans, Mitchell Starc look set to be fit for the Test series. Starc has been incredibly important for Australia in all forms of the game in recent seasons and will be a welcome addition to the side.
Given that Australia are missing five opening batsman, Usman Khawaja should be promoted to open the batting. Khawaja averages over 200 when opening the batting at Test level.
His opening partner should be Aaron Finch who is in excellent form and has a great deal of experience against spin.
The middle order should consist of Callum Ferguson at 3, Peter Handscomb at 4, Glenn Maxwell at 5 and Travis Head at 6, with captain Tim Paine batting at 7.
Ashton Agar and Nathan Lyon should be the spin bowling duo. While Mitch Starc and Chris Tremain should be the quicks used. Jon Holland, Jhye Richardson and Jake Doran should go as the backups.
My Aussie team for the Pakistan Test series
Usman Khawaja
Aaron Finch
Callum Ferguson
Peter Handscomb
Glenn Maxwell
Travis Head
Tim Paine (c)
Ashton Agar
Mitch Starc
Chris Tremain
Nathan Lyon (vc)
Reserves
Jon Holland
Jake Doran
Jhye Richardson
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Finch has improved no doubt but still last summer only averaged 36 in shield cricket. He averaged 52 in 2016/17 shield season but still has only 2 fc centuries over the past 3 seasons. He's just not up to scratch. First picked in white ball cricket and I like him but wouldn't have him near the test team.
jimbo_
Guest
agreed- yet to see something special from him that would warrant test selection... im hoping patterson will surprise a few people in the aus a tour though... he may be a smoky that people have written off. He can actually play spin contrary to popular belief....
Brian
Guest
I don't see why Head keeps getting gifted international caps? He's been average in ODIs, has an average FC record, and now he's just going to walk into a baggy green?
Paul
Roar Guru
Burns has been scapegoated for sure. I too hope he gets another chance. Head might have to have a "make or break" season. He needs runs in Shield and any other long form game he can get and then take his chances if selected for the Tests.
BurgyGreen
Guest
I reckon they'll definitely want a seam bowling all-rounder. It's their obsession. And to be honest I reckon it's fairly justified, they will want an economical fifth bowler and Maxwell and Head will not be economical over there. If Mitch isn't fit Wildermuth may get a big opportunity.
I no
Guest
BurgyGreen absolutely agree with everything you just said that's right if Kurtis Patterson and Peter Handscomb score runs you would have to say there in front of Finch but he's definitely next in line after them 2.p.s. I did try to comment this 30 minutes ago.
I no
Roar Rookie
BurgyGreen absolutely agree with everything you just said that's right if Kurtis Patterson and Peter Handscomb score runs you would have to say there in front of Finch but he's definitely next in line after them 2.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Agree Paul, there's not a lot of info out there about return dates and such. I also think Finch could be a good option - could play a good counter-attacking role at 5. I'd like to see someone like Patterson get a go though if he does well on the A tour.
I no
Roar Rookie
BurgyGreen absolutely agree with everything you just said that's right if Kurtis Patterson or Peter Handscomb score runs you would have to say there in front of him but he's definitely next in line after them 2.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Finch had a terrible start to his first class career (probably because he tried to be an opener) but over the last few seasons he's averaged 45+. He's one of the better red ball middle order bats in the country now IMO and would be very handy at 5. He is also a good slip fielder which is something we don't really have at the moment. However, I wouldn't pick him if other batsmen make runs on the A tour. Agree about Head and Burns though. Head's not a Test player IMO, at least not yet. He's exactly the kind of flakey player we don't need right now. As for Burns, I'll be absolutely gutted if he's fit and they still drop him - he's been treated so unfairly for a bloke with three tons at the top of the order from his first 14 games.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Renshaw by all reports will be fit possibly even for the A series and so will be straight into the side. I don't understand if he's fit how Burns could be overlooked for either Finch or Head. Finch is a brilliant white ball player no doubt but his numbers in first class cricket just don't stack up. Burns record both overall and last season is solid without being spectacular but it craps all over Finch and Head's fc record. The biggest area where Finch and Head struggle is making centuries. The both have 7 fc centuries each from a total of 124 and 126 fc innings. That's not even ok for a shield player let alone a test player. A century every 18 innings! Burns is not in the elite test level by any means but a century every 11 innings is much more respectable. I just don't see what lots of people obviously see in Finch and Head as red ball players.
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Watch khawaja against spin in county centuries, moving feet, sweeping, cutting, reverse sweeps, man plays spin well, our bat find hard in india conditions which apply to all. Look how cook get out to ashwin twice, all lefties find hard against off spin, khawaja unfairly picked on here and will show class in India A series.
I no
Guest
Ross I just had A look and yes you are right he didn't but how about this out of the 53 times he has gotten out 29 times to pace and 22 times out to spin and that's in all conditions if people still wanna say he's good against spin they don't have a clue he has gotten out to the likes of Williamson,Root and Duminy and that ain't even in the subcontinent.
Ross
Guest
These are absurd points, Khawaja played 0 tests in India last time and 0 in UAE but somehow he is failing there, in the only Aus A games there he has averaged over 50, as usual you are ranting on about finch but put Khawaja down again and again
I no
Guest
Krishna khawaja failed in UAE before and failed in Shi Lanka and India and don't get picked in the ipl because he is poor against spin and you don't no if he's gonna play well in India doubt it though did you see in India Ashwin opens the bowling so nowhere to hide Khawaja, Shadab and Yasir Shah are absolute beasts and they will have at least one more finger spinner I'd lay money on khawaja failing.
I no
Guest
Krishna khawaja failed in UAE before and failed in Shi Lanka and India and don't get picked in the ipl because he is poor against spin and you don't no if he's gonna play well in India doubt it though did you see in India Ashwin opens the bowling so nowhere to hide Khawaja, Shadab and Yasir Shah are absolute beasts and they will have at least one more finger spinner I'd lay money on khawaja failing.
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
I big fan of ferguson too
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Khawaja just made 3 centuries in row in county, he play spin well, but all aus batsman struggle with india conditions, khawaja will do good in india tour as he key batsman for us. If burns, maxwell, renshaw all fit then no room for finch but if one injured then bring him backup batsman
I no
Guest
JamesH Darren Lehmann said yesterday that finch should open in test cricket in the subcontinent but 4,5 or 6 anywhere else because in the subcontinent there not much seam movement and both spinners will be on in like 4,5 overs did you not see when Australia went to India and we only played 1 fast bowler Cummins and there's nowhere to hide khawaja and if he fails in the A tour he shouldn't be picked.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Nah, they don't need a pace allrounder. They will play two spinners and they have part time spinners in Maxwell and head if needed. Finch wouldn't open. He bats 5 or 6 in Shield Cricket. They'd be more likely to open with Kurtis Patterson if Renshaw and Burns are both out, with Finch and Head fighting for the number 6 spot.