Cricket News: A look at Australia’s predicted XI for 1st Test against Pakistan at Perth | Will Cameron Green or Mitchell Marsh play?

It’s that time of year again. The Australian summer is upon us, with the first Test against Pakistan to kick off on December 14 at Optus Stadium in Perth. It will be Australia’s first Test since the Ashes, with the team embarking on a white-ball journey that culminated in a magnificent World Cup triumph.

The Test team is largely settled. But, there are a couple of questions. Will the team management go with Mitchell Marsh or Cameron Green as the all-rounder? Also, will the selectors persist with Alex Carey who has had a difficult second-half of the year across formats?

Australia’s predicted XI for first Test vs Pakistan: 1. David Warner, 2. Usman Khawaja, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Mitchell Marsh, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Mitchell Marsh had a wonderful Ashes series which may prompt Australia to stick with him over Cameron Green. Marsh hit a memorable century at Headingley followed by an unbeaten 107-ball 31 as England pushed for victory in the rain-affected Manchester Test. He also bowled nicely.

Former captain Ricky Ponting believes that Green may have to bide his time to get back into the Test side.

“I think Cameron Green might just have to sit back and bide his time and wait for the opportunity to come back,” Ponting said to Sports Entertainment Network (SEN). “He can get a truckload of runs in Shield cricket and sort of force his way back into the side.”

That being said, Green made a strong case for a recall in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against Queensland. The all-rounder struck 96 off 151 balls when his team were 29/3. He also bowled economically, conceding just 17 off 11 overs in the first innings followed by six runs off his first eight overs in the second.

Another position potentially up for grabs is the wicket-keeper. Alex Carey has had a challenging last few months with a sub-par final three Tests in the Ashes before he was left out of Australia’s ODI team after the first match of the World Cup. But, he found some form with 81 off 116 balls in South Australia’s unsuccessful run chase against Victoria, which could sway the selectors to keep him in the XI ahead of Josh Inglis.

Also, Nathan Lyon is set to make his return to Test cricket after tearing his calf in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. The offspinner loves bowling at Optus Stadium, with 22 wickets in three Tests at an average of 18.45. He is just four away from notching up 500 wickets in Test cricket.

Australia have a wonderful record at home against Pakistan. They have won 14 consecutive home Tests against the Pakistanis, including three of the last four by an innings. In fact, Pakistan’s last victory down under was way back in 1995.

The first Test begins on December 14. The second Test will be played in Melbourne starting on Boxing Day, followed by the New Year’s Test in Sydney.

Australia vs Pakistan Test series schedule:

• 1st Test: December 14-18, 2023, Optus Stadium, Perth.
• 2nd Test: December 26-30, 2023, Melbourne Cricket Ground.
• 3rd Test: January 3-7 2023, Sydney Cricket Ground.