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VOTE: Pick your Australian XI to play Sri Lanka

7th January, 2019
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Expert
7th January, 2019
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Australia have fallen to India 2-1 after a drawn final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and attention will immediately turn to an upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

With the first Test set to be played under lights at the Gabba from Thursday, January 24 and the second to follow in Canberra from February 1, it’s a chance for the Australians to get some confidence back ahead of the World Cup and Ashes later this year.

There will almost undoubtedly be changes to the team which were trounced by India, with changes for the Sydney Test already setting the path.

After a dismal series, Aaron Finch was dropped, alongside Mitchell Marsh, for the recalled Peter Handscomb and Marnus Labuschagne in Sydney.

All four of those players are likely to be battling for their spots, while yet another failure from Shaun Marsh in the Sydney Test – where he just scored eight on a flat wicket – is likely to have the selectors out to take his spot.

While there have been statements made to the contrary, players are actually standing up in Sheffield Shield cricket.

Matthew Wade is at the top of the list with 571 runs in 12 innings at 63, all the while playing his home games on a bowler-friendly Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

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He is every chance at being handed a batsman only spot in the side, replacing someone like Handscomb or Marsh in the middle order, while Daniel Hughes has also been in good form and is a candidate to bat at the top of the order, should the selectors decide not to persist with Khawaja or Finch.

Finch’s position is interesting. While he was dropped for Sydney and is unlikely to return as an opener, there is a chance he could return in the middle order, but he might be under pressure from players like Kurtis Patterson and Jake Lehmann.

Joe Burns is another candidate alongside Queensland teammate Matt Renshaw, with the duo in the fight for a position at the top of the order alongside Marcus Harris.

Harris, Travis Head and Tim Paine, along with Khawaja, appear to be the only players who have a spot in the Australian XI locked down for the Sri Lankan series.

On the bowling front, you’d be stunned if Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon or Josh Hazlewood were replaced, but there has been talk Mitchell Starc could be rested (read: dropped) for the Sri Lankan series.

He has been out of sorts this summer and finished averaging 34 with the ball, which, for someone of his stature and talents within the team, isn’t good enough.

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Chris Tremain would appear to be the most likely candidate to take over his position, with the calls for his debut getting louder on the back of 28 wickets at 23 this Shield season.

Peter Siddle has been in and around the squad so could be another option, while Western Australian tearaway youngster Jhye Richardson has also been in good form with 27 wickets at 19.

Entries have now been closed. You can see the team picked by The Roar right here.

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