Pakistan vs Australia: Justin Langer confirms Test debut for two players in the series opener

Australia and Pakistan will lock horns in the first of the two-match Test series in Dubai. The visitors will be playing their first Test series without Steve Smith and David Warner who are serving the one-year ban imposed on them by the Cricket Australia (CA). Their absence has allowed the likes of Aaron Finch and Travis Head to make their debuts in the longest format with their coach Justin Langer also confirming the same.

The duo scored half-centuries in the four-day practice game which concluded on Tuesday. While Finch opened the innings along with Usman Khawaja and scored 54 runs off 90 deliveries, Head remained unbeaten on 90 and most importantly he faced 200 deliveries during his stay in the middle. Langer was effusive in the praise for both and claimed that there were no doubts on their abilities ever.

“There was never any doubt with those two for me, I thought they were certainties to play. Aaron Finch, I can’t wait to see him play Test cricket. He’s been brilliant in white-ball cricket over the last few years, he’s got the temperament, obviously, for international cricket. Travis Head, his improvement over the last … six months is absolutely amazing. The way he’s adapted his game and improved his game, particularly against spin,” he was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

Will Renshaw play?

However, Matt Renshaw is still doubtful to play in the series opener after the blow he took while playing in the warm-up game. He was hit on the head by Abid Ali while fielding at the short-leg position and is under observation since then. Justin Langer though was confident of the cricketer being physically fine.

“I think Matthew Renshaw will be physically fine. The one thing he’s got is he hasn’t played much cricket. He went on Australia A trip, he got a hamstring strain … he hasn’t spent much time in the middle. That’s going to be the issue for him. It’s going to be an instinct call. We’ve got to weigh up what he’s done in the past,” the coach added.

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