Predicting Australia’s Playing XI for their third Test against India  

Explore Australia’s Playing XI for the third Test against India. Pat Cummins and his Australian side decimated India during the second Test in Adelaide to win the game by ten wickets. It was a clinical performance by the home team that had lost the opening game of the series by a huge margin of 295 runs. Many experts were worried about the form with the bat and ball displayed by the Aussies in Perth. 

It was a complete turnaround by the Aussies as Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne came to the fore. Australia now head to Brisbane with their confidence on the high. The pitch yet again is likely to aid the pacers and this will be music to the ears for Pat Cummins and Co. 

One major worry the home team will have is the doubt over Josh Hazlewood’s fitness. The veteran Aussie pacer wasn’t part of the Adelaide Test having suffered from a side strain after the Perth Test. If Hazlewood isn’t fit to play then Scott Boland will keep his place in the playing XI. 

Here is the likely Australia’s Playing XI vs India

Top order – 

Australian openers were untroubled during the second innings in Adelaide having to chase just 19 runs. Nathan McSweeney batted well during the 1st innings of the previous game having played 109 balls for his 39 runs. Usman Khawaja will know the conditions well as he plays Sheffield Shield for Queensland. 

Middle Order – 

Yet another local lad Marnus Labuschagne has a tremendous record at this venue. The 30-year-old scored 108 runs against India during the 2021 Test at the same venue. Steve Smith will bat at number 4 and his recent form has been a huge letdown. The 35-year-old has scored 19 runs from 3 innings so far this series. Smith was not out on 91 during the Gabba Test earlier this year against West Indies. Left-handed batter Travis Head comes into the game on the back of his 140 in the last Test. The 31-year-old has registered three golden ducks in succession. 

Lower-order – 

Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey will be entrusted with the task of leading the Aussie lower middle order. Both batters have had a mixed time with the bat so far during the ongoing series. Skipper Pat Cummins’ best score of 64 not out came in Gabba and with the ball, the Aussie skipper has picked 40 wickets with 3 fifers and 1 ten wicket haul. Pat Cummins’ best test figures of 6/23 were recorded at this very venue. 

Tail enders – 

Mitchell Starc blew away India’s batting in Adelaide with 6 wickets in the 1st innings of the game. Just like Pat Cummins, even Mitchell Starc has done well in Brisbane. The 34-year-old has scored 224 runs at this venue with one fifty. With the ball, Starc has picked 47 wickets with a best of 4/52. Nathan Lyon has made full use of the late conditions and has picked 51 wickets with a best of 4/69 and a bowling average of 28. Scott Boland has played just one game at this venue and picked 4 wickets which came during the game against South Africa in 2022. 

Australia XI vs India

Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland. 

Disclaimer: This exclusive news is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and intuition. While reviewing this information, consider the points discussed and form your own conclusions.