Australia will play their strongest XI, comprising their star pace trio, when they take on West Indies in the first Test at Perth on November 30th.
No surprising calls were made as Australia return to their pace-heavy bowling attack on the home turf. Captain Pat Cummins announced the playing XI on Tuesday, believing that it will be a fast and bouncy pitch at Optus Stadium.
Scott Boland and Marcus Harris are the two players to miss out from the 13-member squad, whereas Mitchell Swepson, who featured in the side’s previous Test in Sri Lanka, was left out of the side.
Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc form the pace battery, with all-rounder Cameron Green as the fourth pace option. The veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon will be the only spinner in the side.
The batting unit remains unchanged from the previous Test, with David Warner and Usman Khawaja continuing to open the innings.
“You probably could have picked it 12 months ago. Everyone has done well to get them fit and firing for this series and we’re in a really good place. Easy decision,”
said Cummins.
Australia had the first look of the pitch on Tuesday , with a tinge of grass visible. Talking about what type of surface to expect on Wednesday, the captain admitted he’s not good at reading pitches but expects good bounce early on and cracks late in the Test.
“I don’t really know what to expect, I can’t really read the wickets. But it looks like there’s a bit of grass. It’s hot today, hot first day (of the Test) so it might crack up. But no idea really.”
The Aussies will return to the longer format after July, with the summer packed with white-ball cricket, including the T20 World Cup 2022. Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Travis Head and Alex Carey have played Sheffield Shield in the meantime. Others haven’t played any first-class cricket since July.
As for the World Test Championship, Australia sit at the top of the table with 84 points from 10 Tests and amongst the favourites to make it to the final.
