Former Australian World Cup-winning captains Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting both feel that the Australian team should drop the opener Aaron Finch in the final Test of the four-match home Test series against Australia.
At the end of the third Test of the series, Australia is trailing the series by 2-1. The fourth Test will be played at Sydney from 3 January 2019. As the Australian batting is struggling against the Indian bowlers and the opener Aaron Finch has mostly disappointed in this Test series, the former Australian World Cup-winning skippers feel that Finch should be dropped from the playing XI.
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While the Sydney track has historically supported the spinners and the leg-spin all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne has been added in the Test squad. Both the former skippers feel that Marnus will feature in the upcoming Sydney Test.
However, both the former captains have suggested different batting orders. While Waugh wants to see Marcus Harris and Shaun Marsh as the opening batsmen, Ponting feels Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja will be the good option for opening batting.
Talking about his Australian playing XI for the Sydney Test, Ponting told cricket.com.au, “I’ve seen Labuschagne has come into the line-up so to me straightaway that means Finch has to miss out and Usman will open the batting, I’d imagine.
“That’s how it looks Labuschagne probably bats four, Head five and Mitch Marsh six I think that’s the way they’re going to line up. I can’t really think what else they can do. The selectors and the captain and coach have obviously had a long chat about what they want and what they expect. We’ll see how they line up.”
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Australian predicted playing XI for Sydney Test
Steve Waugh’s playing XI: Marcus Harris, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Tim Paine, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.
Ricky Ponting’ playing XI: Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.
