As India is set to tour Australia to play the much-awaited four-match Test series in December, Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood picked up the India-Australia combined Test playing XI. He made some obvious choices but didn’t name the captain of the team.
Meanwhile, the Test series will start on 3rd December in Brisbane. Following which, the next two Test will be played in Adelaide and Melbourne and the last match will be played in Sydney from 3rd January.
Josh Hazlewood selects Mayank Agarwal and Virat Kohli:
The fast bowler Josh Hazlewood choose Team India’s opener Mayank Agarwal and the attacking batsman David Warner as the opening batsman in the India-Australia combined playing XI. At no. 3, he placed his teammate and No. 1 Test batsman Steve Smith, who has scored 7227 Test runs.
Hazlewood selected Indian captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara at No. 4 and No. 5 respectively in the playing XI. For the No. 6 position, he wants either Marnus Labuschagne or Rohit Sharma because they have the talent to change the game.
“Openers would be Mayank Agarwal – taking future in consideration – and David Warner. Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara are automatic picks at three, four and five,” he told WION.
“At no. six…I will have Marnus Labuschagne or Rohit Sharma given their ability to change the game,” said Hazlewood.
Jasprit Bumrah in fast bowling department:
The right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood picked himself and his teammate Pat Cummins in the fast bowling department. He also picked India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the pace battery. For the spinner position, he chose Ravichandran Ashwin for the Indian condition while Nathan Lyon for Australian conditions.
Hazlewood’s India-Australia combined Test XI: Mayank Agarwal, David Warner, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Marnus Labuschagne/Rohit Sharma, Nathan Lyon/Ravichandran Ashwin, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Jasprit Bumrah.