Australia vs India 2018: Probable Australian Playing XI for the First Test

India kicked off their tour to Australia with a T20I series which saw both the teams win one T20I each while the 2nd match of the series was washed out. Shikhar Dhawan and Krunal Pandya were the biggest positives for India in the T20 series but neither of them is a part of the Indian squad for the test series. The Indian team will next play a four-day practice match against the Cricket Australia XI ahead of the tests.

Tim Paine will lead the Australian team in the 4-match test series which will start from 6th December with the Adelaide Oval being the venue for the first test.

Here is the probable Australian XI for the first test match of the series -

Openers - Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja looked in fine form against Pakistan

The Australian selectors have named debutante Marcus Harris in the squad as a potential opener and there are high chances that the left-handed batsman will make his Test debut against India at Adelaide. Marcus has amassed nearly 4,000 runs in first-class cricket playing for the teams of Victoria and Western Australia. He also has a highest score of 250* and Australia would love to place an unknown commodity against the Indian attack in the first test.

Usman Khawaja, the left-handed opener is expected to be Harris' partner since he had played a superb innings against Pakistan in the U.A.E. The Pakistan born player had helped Australia salvage a draw versus the hosts in the first test match of the series by scoring 141 runs off 302 balls in the 2nd innings. While Australia's T20I skipper Aaron Finch had opened for Australia in the UAE Justin Langer would certainly demote him to the middle order.

Middle Order - Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch, and Travis Head

Shaun Marsh was replaced by Marcus Labuschagne in the 2nd test of Australia vs Pakistan series

After the departure of Steve Smith, the Australians have struggled to find a stable middle order. In the series against Pakistan, the Aussies had tried Marcus Labuschagne in the middle order but he has not been able to retain his place in the test squad against India.

The best three options for Australia from the 14 man squad in the middle order are Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch, and Travis Head. Marsh had scored a handsome amount of runs when the two teams last clashed in Australia and is perhaps the most solid no.3 option for Australia.

Aaron Finch deserves to play in the team and the best position for him after the opening slot is the no.4 slot. Travis Head has been in fine nick and is expected to play at no.5 for the home team.

Wicket-keeper - Tim Paine

Tim Paine is the captain of the Australian team

Tim Paine was appointed as the successor of Steve Smith after the latter was banned to play the sport due to the infamous ball-tampering scandal. The wicket-keeper has failed to perform well as a captain since the Australian team has not been able to repeat its past performances under Paine. The home series against India could be Paine's last chance to prove that he is the best option to captain the Aussie test team.

He led the team from the front against Pakistan in the first test where he batted 194 balls to help his team avoid a defeat. Paine wasn't even a part of the Australian team during the 2014/15 series against India as Brad Haddin was the one who was keeping the wickets while Michael Clarke was the leader of the squad. Paine could score only 3 runs in his last 2 test innings and it seems like his place in the team will be on the line during the series versus India.

All-rounder - Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh is certainly the best Australian all-rounder in the longest format of the game

Mitchell Marsh had failed trouble the Indian team with both bat and ball during their last tour but will be an integral part of the Australian team in the upcoming series. Though the form is not by his side currently, the all-rounder can be expected to perform well in home conditions. Mitchell Marsh is also the vice-captain of the Australian Test team.

Spinner - Nathan Lyon

Australia v India - 1st Test: Day 5

Nathan Lyon was one of the key reasons why India failed to win a single test in Australia during the previous tour. He wrecked the Indian batting order with his right-arm off-spin and had picked 23 wickets in that series.

When the two teams played in Adelaide in 2014, Nathan Lyon scalped 12 Indian wickets and took 5 wicket-hauls in both the innings. This fact would be enough for the wily offie to cement his place in the playing XI for the first Test.

Fast Bowlers - Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Chris Tremain

Chris Tremain could well receive his maiden test cap on 6th December

While Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood pick themselves in the playing XI, it is the slot of the third pacer which will be discussed in the team meeting ahead of the first test. The selectors have named Peter Siddle, Pat Cummins, and Chris Tremain in the squad. While, Siddle and Cummins have the experience of playing international cricket, both the superstars are very prone to injuries.

It would be right to give the 27-year-old right arm medium pacer Chris Tremain his maiden Test cap against India in the first Test. The Australian has never played the Test format earlier and so can trouble the Indian batsmen with his pace.