Australia name their starting XI to play India in Chennai.
Australia captain Michael Clarke has surprisingly named Moises Henriques in his team as part of a quartet of pace bowlers. There is good news for the Aussies too as opening batsman David Warner has recovered from injury to play in the first Test.
The inclusion of Henriques has meant there is no place in the side for all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell was the most expensive player at last month’s IPL auction, but the Australian selectors decided not to opt for the 24-year-old.
It had been thought Maxwell’s spin bowling would earn him a place, but Australia have surprised many people by naming four seam bowlers to play on a pitch that is renowned for being good for spin.
This means that Nathan Lyon will have to bare all of the spin bowling on his shoulders as the only recognised turner of the ball. Although batsman Shane Watson used to bowl spin, he has recently decided to give up bowling.
The only glaring admission from the squad is Mitchell Johnson. Along with Henriques, Australia have named Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson in their pace attack, meaning Johnson will have to wait a bit longer for his next chance.
There is relief for Clarke and his side with Warner passing his fitness test, as it is believed that if he’d missed out Watson would have moved from number four to two. This idea caused concerns as without Watson, many thought Australia’s middle-order would be too inexperienced and therefore vulnerable to the Indian bowlers.
Australia Starting XI: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (c), Matthew Wade (wk), Moises Henriques, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon.
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