Australia vs India: Ricky Ponting answers Australia's playing XI question for the 1st Test

After the three-match T20I series ended 1-1, the focus now shifts to the four-Test series starting between the two teams in Adelaide from December 6. India have not beaten Australia in a Test series on their soil ever since they first toured that country in 1947-48 and have only drawn them thrice so far. This time, India are the top-ranked team in the longer format and many are seeing this as a golden opportunity for Virat Kohli’s men to register the team’s first ever Test series win in Australia, thanks to a depleted Aussie side.

Finch and Harris to open; Khawaja at No.3

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who has led his side to 48 victories in 77 matches, has come up with his playing XI for the first Test and his choice for the opening slots are Victoria mates Aaron Finch and debutant Marcus Harris. The former cricketer has chosen Usman Khawaja to bat at No.3. Khawaja batted well in the opening position against Pakistan in the recent two-Test series in the UAE where he scored a match-saving hundred. He, however, couldn’t finish off the series because of a knee injury but made a quick recovery before the India series.

“Suddenly you start to work it out and like he showed in the UAE, he played one of the all-time great rear-guard innings an Australian has ever played. Let’s hope it’s the making of him, not just for this summer but for the next five or so years. I’ve been a huge fan of Khawaja’s for a long time, probably outspokenly so, a lot of people have been quite critical of him over the years,” Ponting was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Marsh brothers, Head, Paine followed by the bowlers

Ponting’s next players of preference in the Australian order are the two Marsh brothers – Shaun and Mitch, followed by Travis Head and captain Tim Paine, also the side’s wicketkeeper. Ponting said it didn’t matter whether the players picked are all left-handed or right-handed and said it was important to find players who are consistent scorers, particularly ahead of the next Ashes scheduled in England in 2019.

The former cricketer’s preferences for the bowling line-up are Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood. Australia are without the service of two of their premier batsmen – Steve Smith and David Warner – who are serving a year-long ban owing to a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa earlier this year.

Here is the playing eleven

Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Tim Paine (c/wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

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