Published: Sep 27, 2018, 04:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 27, 2018, 04:55 PM (IST)
Australia have named the uncapped trio of Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Michael Neser and two-Test spinner Jon Holland in the playing XI for the upcoming four-day tour game against Pakistan A that will begin on Saturday at the International Cricket Academy in Dubai.
According to cricket.com.au, the match will be treated as an official first-class which means the four players, who have been omitted from the squad — Ashton Agar, Marnus Labuschagne, Peter Siddle and Brendan Doggett – will not play any further part in the game.
Finch may open the batting along with Matthew Renshaw, a sign that he may make his debut in the two-match Test series beginning on October 7 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Medium pacer Neser can use the opportunity to assert his place in the squad as pacer spearhead Mitchell Starc’s partner for the first Test thereby pipping fellow fast bowlers Siddle and Doggett.
Head will fill in the middle-order berths, but it is learnt that Labuschagne, along with the other players who will miss the tour match, will all be competing for a spot in the playing XI.
Agar, who’s still nursing a minor shoulder injury he sustained after staying back for the start of Western Australia’s JLT One-Day Cup campaign, arrived in Dubai and bowled many overs under the searing heat during Australia’s training session at the ICC Academy on Thursday.
Holland might partner off-spinner Nathan Lyon for the first Test.
Australia XI for tour match v Pakistan A: Tim Paine (captain), Aaron Finch, Matthew Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland.
