Shane Warne picks his Australia XI for Brisbane Test against Pakistan

Pakistan’s tour of Australia is set to get underway on Thursday, October 31. The tour starts with a practice match followed by three T20Is, starting November 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. After the completion of the shortest format, the two teams will lock horns in a couple of Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide. The red-ball fixtures are scheduled to start on Friday, November 29.

Even as the visitors have already put forth both the squads, the home team is yet to announce the Test squad. In the meantime, Shane Warne, the former spinner, tried to pick his best Australian XI for the opening Test at The Gabba. As an opener, he picked David Warner, who had a torrid time in the Ashes, and Usman Khawaja, dropping the likes of Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft.

Shane Warne includes young Will Pucovski

Marnus Labuschagne gave a good account of himself in the Ashes and Warne roped him in as well. Steve Smith is expected to be in anyone’s Test lineup bearing in mind the form he is in. Warne went for Matthew Wade as a specialist batsman with Tim Paine as the keeper. Will Pucovski got a call up for the Sri Lanka Tests earlier this year, but didn’t get an opportunity to play.

The 21-year-old has done well for Victoria in the first-class cricket of late and Warne feels that the youngster should play Test cricket. James Pattinson has recovered from a back injury and didn’t play all the Tests in the Ashes, however, Warne included him in his eleven. It didn’t spring a surprise that he picked Pat Cummins, one of Australia’s standout performers, in his lineup.

Josh Hazlewood was the third specialist seamer along with the likes of Cummins and Pattinson. Nathan Lyon is Warne’s sole spin bowling option in the eleven. The notable exclusion from Warne’s eleven was that of Mitchell Starc. The left-arm seamer played only one Test in the Ashes at the Old Trafford in Manchester. The southpaw picked up four wickets in the match.

Here is Shane Warne’s eleven

David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Will Pucovski, Tim Paine (C & WK), James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Shane Warne's Test XI:

D Warner
U Khawaja
M Labuschagne
S Smith
M Wade
W Pucovski
T Paine (c)
J Pattinson
P Cummins
N Lyon
J Hazlewood

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/0xyEXii7G0

— bet365_aus (@bet365_aus) October 23, 2019