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Langer says Test side likely to stay unchanged for June series against Bangladesh

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7th January, 2020
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Australia are unlikely to tinker with their top six during a Test tour of Bangladesh in June, while the bowling attack may also be unchanged for the first Test.

Australia are set to back their pace guns and incumbent top six to get the job done against Bangladesh in June, having dominated the home summer in unprecedented fashion.

Clinical 2-0 and 3-0 series wins over Pakistan and New Zealand respectively marked the first time that Australia have won every Test in a home summer inside four days.

Australia’s one-day squad, including man of the moment and soon-to-be ODI debutant Marnus Labuschagne, fly out for a tour of India on Thursday.

The two-Test series in Bangladesh will be the only time that Tim Paine’s team don their baggy greens until the 2020-21 season.

It’s likely Trevor Hohns’ panel will include an allrounder in that touring party, possibly even 20-year-old Cameron Green, and there is certain to be some additional spinners to complement Nathan Lyon.

Joe Burns, having scored 159 runs at 22.71 from seven innings since an impressive 97 in the first Test of the summer, would appear to be the batsman with the most to worry about.

But coach Justin Langer suggested selectors are unlikely to tinker with the top six or adopt a horses-for-courses mentality for the subcontinent trip.

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“In the spirit of that continuity, it’d be hard to break up that (current) squad. We might add an allrounder and another spinner, because we’re going to get spinning conditions,” Langer told reporters.

Australia have generally selected two spinners in their XI on trips to Asia during recent years but don’t be surprised if the bowling attack is unchanged come the next Test.

Langer has treasured memories of a landmark 2004 triumph, when a pace battery of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz played all four Tests while helping Australia end a 35-
year wait for a series win in India.

Pat Cummins is an automatic selection in any side if fit. 

Selectors may take the view that picking two of Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Josh Hazlewood will give Australia a better chance of success than calling up a second spinner.

“We’ll look at the conditions. I remember when Australia won after many, many years in India it was on the back of some very, very disciplined fast bowling,” Langer said.

“It could happen, it’d be so hard to leave out one of those three or four bowlers.

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“So we’ll look at that when it comes to Bangladesh, but there’s a good combination.

“It also helps with Marnus bowling legspin, also helps with Travis Head being able to bowl a few overs as well.”

© AAP

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