Ahead of the much-awaited Test series between India and Australia, legendary spinner Shane Warne has picked his Australia playing eleven for the series-opener.
Australia will take on India in four Tests, starting December 6 at Adelaide. The hosts will have their task cut out against the world number one Test side in the absence of David Warner and Steve Smith. Both the players along with Cameron Bancroft are currently serving a lengthy ban for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal. Smith and Warner’s bans will end in March next year while Bancroft’s ban will end in December this year.
Recent media reports are suggesting that Cricket Australia is considering on the prospect of shortening the ban. However, as of now nothing is clear and chances are more that Australia will have to play the series without their star duo and newbie Bancroft. Not surprisingly, Shane Warne left the trio out of his playing eleven.
While most of the players in the team are expected names, one surprising name is that of Marcus Stoinis. The allrounder is yet to make his Test debut. He recently impressed in the ODI series against Australia and Warne feels Australia should give him a chance while dropping out-of-form Mitchell Marsh. Marsh, who is one of Australia’s two Test vice-captains, fared poorly in Australia’s last Test assignment which was against Pakistan. The allrounder scored 12,0, 13 and 5 in UAE. With the ball, he picked up just 2 wickets.
Warne took to Instagram to reveal his team, writing:
“If I was a selector then this would be my first test team against India on Dec 6th in Adelaide, real shame it’s not a day / night test match ! Agree ?”
Meanwhile, India and Australia will compete in three T20Is, four Tests and three ODIs. The series will start off with the shortest format, with the first T20I to be played at The Gabba on November 21, 2018.
After the three-match T20I series, the two teams will compete in a four-Test series.
Adelaide opens the Test summer against India on December 6 in a blockbuster Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The Perth Stadium will host its first Test match when India visit for the second Border-Gavaskar match, before the series moves back to Melbourne and Sydney for the traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s games respectively.
Following the Tests, there will be three ODIs. Sydney Cricket Ground will host the first ODI on January 12. The long tour will conclude with the third ODI at MCG on January 18.