VOTE: Who should Australia pick for the first Test vs Pakistan?

It's unfortunate about James Pattinson's suspension, otherwise he would've been a walk in starter. When his ban is over, I'd like to see the Aussies try this batting order: Warner Burns Labuschagne Smith Wade Paine Pattinson Cummins Starc Lyon Hazlewood Pattinson's more than handy with the bat and if you bat him at number 7 and have him play the allrounder role then you have an extra fast bowler who's a genuine wicket taker and someone who can make a few runs down the order. And since he's the most injury prone of all the other quicks in the squad, having him play that allrounder role and bowling short spells could be a good way to monitor his workload. Moving Paine up to 6 also allows the Aussies to keep their three best batsmen from the Ashes in the side - Smith, Labuschagne and Wade. That gives you three batsmen currently in good form, along with Warner who could turn his form around at any moment in Australia and it gives you a formidable side. It just means someone like Travis Head will have to be the unlucky omission

Wade is perfectly adequate keeper. Can't have both a 6 and 7 that average 30 when we have guys with averages in the high 30's that aren't deemed good enough. Pick one not both. Lucky we have Smith to bludge on.

His keeping is test standard though. I’m happy with us picking the best available wicketkeeper with batting a secondary consideration. Should he be captain? Not once Smith is allowed to take charge again. Until then he’s safe but

Paine just isn't Test standard. We're carrying him because he plays the role of a good bloke.

I was right about Bancroft.

Why on earth would you want to subject our premier fast bowling attack to having Matthew Wade behind the stumps? Like putting an uber driver behind the wheel of a Bathurst supercar. That's before you get to the fact you've just axed the Australian captain from the test side for the first time since Bill Lawry. No dramas otherwise, and given Pucovski has withdrawn, just put Paine in for him. I'd be happy with that side, would very much like to see Burns given a chance to suceed or fail on his own terms - like Shaun Marsh got v India in 2012, although hopefully with better returns.

"He’s done that too much, earned the spot through weight of runs, but be totally unable to replicate his form at test level." Not true Chris. Only last season. Every other season (except his first where he came straight back in after Cape Town back injury) he's made runs in Shield and backed it up in the summer when selected. It's his o/s tours that have been consistently poor, not in Australia where he averages 45. - 2011/12: 2.83 ave (4 Tests) – 2014/15: 42.33 (3) – 2015/16: 77.66 (2) – 2016/17: 39.00 (1) – 2017/18: 74.16 (5) – 2018/19: 26.14 (4)

In recent years, Australia has favoured a genuine fifth bowling option in Marsh during the Australian summer. But there has been little discussion of an all-rounder. With flat pitches and a hot summer I would select a fifth bowling option. James Pattinson and Pat Cummins are both capable with the bat. I would select all five bowlers (Pattinson, Cummins, Lyon, Starc, Hazlewood). Most Shield sides play five bowlers. Won’t happen though.

Would have liked to have seen Richardson in but I think that’s because I am a West Aussie. Totally understand the Neser pick...has been in good form. And I agree that Burns should get the first go.

Warner, Burns, Labuschagne, Smith, Wade, Head, Paine, Pattinson, Cummins, Lyon & Hazlewood. I expect Starc will be in but I like Pattinson more. Burns to open not on current form but on his average of 40 compared to Bancroft & Harris in the 20s. I would of went with Pucovski for Head but that situation has changed.

Mightn't be in the XI first up, but yeah, the reasoning for Bancroft seems pretty obvious. Outperformed all others against the upcoming attack, and serves as both top and middle order coverage. His form though, prior to this one, was scratchy, some OD Cup performances aside. I suspect Burns will partner Warner in Brisbane. Missing is a significant blow for Harris too. They must have the same doubts held by many about handling the next level. He had domestic form in the lead-up, but will need to produce more of it at large to earn his next chance. I think given the withdrawals and the fact none have knocked the door down, the squad is a sensible one. Now goodness me just afford the chosen bats five tests please!

Very true I don’t even mind the option of Aaron finch coming in at number 6 playing more of an aggressive role down the order.

He's improving, but still has a bit of work to do. Especially his bowling seems to be getting better, but would have liked to see him convert some of his starts into big scores. To push for the number 6 spot he needs to make it in on the strength of his batting with his bowling just a bit of a bonus. At this point I think they can go in with 4 bowlers and Labuschagne's spin as the 5th bowling option enough.

Depends, if the bowler is able to swing it both ways you can't necessarily just leave it, just ask Cameron Green who got done in that way by Cummins in the first innings of the Shield match. Bowl a few outswingers, have him leaving them, then start one in exactly the same spot but bring it back to hit the off stump, still leaves it and is bowled. I did think that Burns got his foot out to it a lot better, but probably pushed at it too much instead of letting it come to him and playing with soft hands. He's certainly vulnerable around that off stump, but then, so are all the other contenders. So it's hard to know the way to go.

That was my pick for 6. Has been taking quite a lot of wickets. Only question is his batting strong enough for 6.

Agree Chris. I was actually thinking of longer term with Patterson. Number 5 batsmen and given an extended shot at it.

Thoughts on Marcus Stoinis coming into the test team at 6? Has been taking some wickets and scoring runs in shield cricket?

That second innings dismissal was pure "worst of Burns", except he did at least get across to it. Wide, angled bat. There is no need to defend those, just leave them. Until he does that, he's no opener, and possibly no Test player at all. I still like the idea of him at 5 or 6, but he's got to sort that before getting back in the baggy green.

Always happy to put my foot in it and see him named in the squad 5 seconds later. Glad he has been picked in the squad and hope he ends up partnering Warner. There would be some justice for Burns if he was to make some scores this summer and cement that spot for the next couple of years. I felt they would stick with the incumbent but not sure he is up to it either. Bancroft does what Bancroft does and makes gritty runs when those around him flounder. No strong preferences for me, I just hope the guy that gets the gig makes a good go of it.

Not sure Burns has fully excluded himself from the conversation. Since none of the batsmen did particularly well in that tour game, it's possible that it may almost be discarded and the Shield form be the main indicator. But I must admit both Burns dismissals were pretty ugly. Bowled between a gaping gap between bat and pad in the first innings, then just pushing with hard hands to edge the ball in the second, having just been dropped a couple of balls earlier in similar fashion. Not what you want from an opener. Harris first innings dismissal looked exactly like more of the same from the Ashes unfortunately. It's a really tough call, because it really feels like whoever gets picked there are a lot of question marks over them.