Australian captain Pat Cummins has finally revealed the full team for the first Test at the Gabba, with Mitchell Starc retaining his place in the bowling attack and Travis Head officially given the nod over Usman Khawaja at number five in the batting order.
After weeks of speculation, Starc holds his spot despite plenty of conjecture, most of it driven by Australian great Shane Warne, that he should be replaced by Jhye Richardson after a lean 2020-21 summer against India.
Head, who lost his spot in the middle order in that very series, has returned to the team after a dominant start to the domestic summer, including a Marsh Cup double-century and two further tons in the Sheffield Shield.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey had already been confirmed for his Test debut, replacing former captain Tim Paine behind the stumps; while Marcus Harris’ opening spot alongside David Warner was the only other spot in any jeopardy heading into the summer.
Speaking to media on Sunday, new captain Cummins made no secret of how difficult the decision was to choose between Head and Khawaja to bat at five at the Gabba, calling it ‘a tight one’.
“[They’re] both really good options, really strong form,” Cummins said.
“Experience is great from ‘Uzzie’ and we feel really lucky to have that in the squad, but Trav’s been playing a lot for us the last couple of years.
“He’s gone away and he’s churned out runs in England, here in Australia, and we feel like he’s really ready to go.”
(William West/AFP/Getty Images)
Starc, meanwhile, survives despite calls for the left-arm quick to be replaced by the in-form Jhye Richardson. In a further boost, he is expected to once again take the new ball with Josh Hazlewood, with Cummins saying he ‘probably won’t’ be elevating himself up the bowling order despite being in charge.
However, England are yet to name their own XI for the first Test, which starts on Wednesday. Captain Joe Root said the make-up of the bowling attack is still uncertain just days out, with the Poms weighing up whether to play a four-seamer attack or include spinner Jack Leach.
“We’ve got all the options on the table… we’re not going to name a team just yet,” Root said.
“We’ll have to see the closer forecast and how that pitch changes over the next couple of days.
“It’s a great place to play spin. It’s something we’ll weigh up and consider, but we’re not in a position to make that call right now.”
Australian XI for first Ashes Test
1. David Warner
2. Marcus Harris
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith
5. Travis Head
6. Cameron Green
7. Alex Carey (wk)*
8. Pat Cummins (c)
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Josh Hazlewood
* on debut
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
If Hillsong have taken over the Liberal party they aren’t doing a good job with presenting a good example. Same goes for nine and some of the trash they are presenting. I’d hardly say that there is any evidence of high standards in either group.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Never mind his record? Seriously? So if Warne goes for 0/95 in a one dayer, he should be dismissed from Test cricket because his last game was a shocker, despite a superior record in a different format? Harsh selection criteria! Not sure how you, or Warne would’ve dealt with that.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Sure...and Shaun Marsh put his hand up for selection for the Boxing Day Test with a fine BBL innings a few years ago Prez...how did that turn out? :silly:
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Hillsong have taken over the Liberal Party and Peter Costello runs Nine Entertainment. Join the dots.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Hillsong?? you're joking??
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Don’t underestimate the footholds he makes for Lyon!
Simoc
Roar Rookie
On the bright side Khawaja can cover any batting position should he be needed. It seems this is the team. Two of the quicks will be rotated and Pucovski needs to play his way back into the team when he is fully recovered. Let us hope the guys can deliver! If Brisbane looks to be a shortened test we may play 4 quicks, the fourth being Neser.
Brian
Guest
Lets those not required go play the BBL
JamesH
Roar Guru
So two bad tests when his dad was dying overrides all the good performances that came beforehand? T20 is hit and miss. Starc got carved apart in one over by Williamson, who was dropped and got multiple boundaries through edges. If Australia had gone out in the semi final and Hazlewood's last outing was 0/49, would you be using that to justify keeping him out of the side? Of course not.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
There has got to be some level of accountability for his shocking performance last summer against India and also some level of picking blokes in form. Starc isn't in form, because the last time he bowled was the t20 World cup where he bowled poorly meanwhile Richardson is, that combined with his shocking output last summer is in my opinion more than enough to swing the axe. Never mind his record, recent history should have come into account.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Exactly, if the reasoning for picking Head/Harris over Uzzy is age, despite Uzzys superior form, then how on earth is starc getting a gig over Richardson? Probably because "gee he bowls a nice fast Yorker at the tail".
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Khawaja isn't one of "the lads" and speaks up against Langer, you even saw it in the Test doco. Clearly if the team was picked purely on merit he would be their over Head or Harris but it's not. They got picked because they are "good blokes".
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Green is in as a batsman alone on merit. Any wickets he takes is just a bonus, even if he couldn't bowl at all his batting stats suggest he should be in the team as a bat.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I don't think it's so much state bias as it is bias towards the lads in the "boys club". Langer is in that club, so is Starc and Head it seems. Look at the way Langer talks about Paine, "best bloke I've met in cricket". I couldn't care less what kind of bloke they are, play the best cricketers. Uzzy isn't in the boys club because he spoke up, Jhye isn't because he's been injured and out of the scene for a while.
Prez
Roar Rookie
would be happy to see J. Richardson playing. Alongside Cummings and Hazelwood it would give the Poms no respite, the bowlers would be at them constantly. But Starc has been a world class bowler and still has a test average of 27.
Handy
Roar Rookie
Using that same logic - namely we need to move on and blood our next stars - how do you justify the Starc selection over J. Richardson? The Indian fiasco, combined with that Kane-ing in Dubai, should have 100% cleared the way for Richardson’s scintillating Gabba form.
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
Justin Logic is the reason ? aka the Little Bus. I think of Usman but think of all the tests Maxwell, Patterson and even Renshaw, Chadd Sayers missed. I dont want to be mean and names the duds that took their spots
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
spot on Micko,its Mickey mouse cricket.I havent got time for that night after night.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Let's hope Carey plays well enough for Langer to quit those absurd ideas of Paine coming back.
matth
Roar Guru
The pork knuckle is apparently a good feed, according to my son.