Darren Lehmann has almost arrived at the squad for the first Test at Pune

Coach and one among the touring selectors, Darren Lehmann has almost made his mind on the Aussies playing XI versus India for the first Test to be played in Pune from February 23. It looks almost certain that both the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitch, will make it into the final XI, for varying skills.

Shaun Marsh has been very effective in the sub-continent conditions and impressed in the practice game against India A. Mitchell Marsh seems to be likely occupying the much-debated number six slot for the Aussies, which was experimented a lot during the home summer. The ability to reverse the bowl would favour Mitch’s chances.

The major question mark is over who would walk out with David Warner to open the innings. Matt Renshaw, the youngest member of the squad, made an impressive debut against Pakistan at home but is quite alien to sub-continent conditions. That brings the incumbent Usman Khawaja to the picture who could be slotted into open the innings.

The 20-year-old Renshaw was given a chance to impress during the practice game but didn’t last long with returns of 11 (from 41 balls faced) and 10 (off seven) in the first and second innings’.

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“At the moment you would say he (Renshaw) would play but we have to sum up what the conditions are like, what the pitches will be like, how we’ll play,” Lehmann said. He indicated that Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh would likely “float between three and four” in the Test batting order. Peter Handscomb will retain the number five position, boasting an average of 99.75 after four matches, scoring twin hundreds.

“He batted really well for us in Sri Lanka (last year) to be fair, he was one of our better batters,” Lehmann said of Mitch Marsh who scored a patient 75 from 159 balls in the tour match and claimed 1/45 from 13 overs with the ball.

“So his subcontinent record’s pretty good, he got runs in Dubai when he first toured there and he got runs in Sri Lanka.

“He would have loved a big score but we’ve been impressed with theway he plays spin bowling.Reverse swing will play its part here, definitely.The pitches wear quickly, so it’s a lot easier to get reverse swing here than most other places.That will be a very big part, and obviously, (Josh) Hazlewood and (Mitchell) Starc are very good at it, so is Marsh.” Lehmann was quoted, who will pick the XI along with captain Smith and tour selector Trevor Hohns.

The spin department seemed to be handed over to Nathan Lyon and Steven O’Keefe for the moment, having bowled 90+ overs in the practice matches. Lyon was criticised for his high action which pundits deem unsuitable for sub-continent conditions. Australia’s most successful off-spinner statistically, has been working on tweaking his action to impart more side-spin. O’Keefe also impressed Lehmann with his accuracy.

Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc have been operators of quick bowling and their ability to reverse the red-cherry with nagging accuracy will certainly test the Indian batters.

Written by Rameez Mannil