Ashes 2021-22: Australia reveal their playing XI for Brisbane Test
Australia (Photo by Tom Jenkins)
Australia have revealed their playing XI for the first Ashes Test starting on Wednesday (December 8) in Brisbane. Wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey is part of the team and is set to make his debut in the longest format for Australia. Carey will take up wicketkeeping duties in place of Tim Paine, who has taken an indefinite break from the game.
Carey has a great first-class record in Sheffield Shield for South Australia. He has played 45 matches and scored 2500 runs. The southpaw has also good experience of playing white-ball cricket for Australia and has earned a reputation of being a safe wicketkeeper batter.
Meanwhile, Travis Head has been selected in the playing XI ahead of Usman Khawaja. Australia Test skipper Pat Cummins although revealed it was a tough call to select between the duo. Head has done well in the national team in the limited opportunities that he has got. Meanwhile, Khawaja was seen in good form for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.
Head though has got a nod and will be seen in the crucial middle-order role. In the bowling department the usual suspects, Cummins, Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon will be seen. Australia head coach Justin Langer spoke about the pacers’ preparation, despite unfavorable conditions in Brisbane due to rain.
“(Their preparation) has been excellent. We had some brilliant center-wicket practice (at Metricon Stadium), we always thought that their workloads coming from the World Cup and because we went so deep, that we might’ve had to work a bit harder on that, but they’ve been great,” Langer was quoted as saying in cricket.com.au.
“They’ve had three or four center-wicket sessions, and you saw how the boys bowled (Saturday) – they’re up and about, and they’re very confident after the World Cup, and with the experience of their careers. So, I’m happy with the way they’re going,” he added.
Australia’s XI
Marcus Harris, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
