Peter Siddle beats Michael Neser to selection as Australia names three debutants

[Hogg]

AUSTRLIA has named three debutants to play the first Test against Pakistan, starting Sunday in Dubai (5pm EDT), while veteran quick Peter Siddle has earned a recall.

Marnus Labuschagne joins Aaron Finch and Travis Head on the list of baggy green recipients for the first Test, coming in at the expense of Matt Renshaw.

Siddle meanwhile has beat Michael Neser to selection and will play his first Test since November 2016.

Renshaw’s omission sees Usman Khawaja move to the top of the order with Finch, with Shaun and Mitchell Marsh expected to bat at No.3 and 4 ahead of Head and Labuschagne.

Labuschagne looked long odds to make his debut after being left out of Australia’s XI for the tour match against Pakistan A last week. However, a worrying blow to the helmet for Matt Renshaw while fielding at bat-pad opened the door for the Queenslander.

Renshaw was substituted out of the match for Labuschagne, who proceeded to score an unbeaten 39. While Renshaw is fit and healthy to play, a lack of cricket of late has come him his spot. the amount of cricket he has played of late.

The opener missed Australia A’s first four-day match against India A last month due to a hamstring injury and had his county stint cut short by a broken finger in the winter.

“He hasn’t had enough cricket so the decision was made there to go with Marnus,” Paine told reporters on Saturday.

“He’s had a bit of an unlucky run, Renners, with injury. He missed a game in India and then he got hit on the head and couldn’t bat in the last game. The decision was made that he just hasn’t played enough cricket and Marnus has been playing quite a bit of cricket on the A tour.

“Obviously a lot of discussion about it but we think Marnus brings a lot to the group. He’s a really good player of spin and we think as well his legspin will be something we can throw at the Pakistanis they might not be expecting.”

Remarkably, Nathan Lyon will be the only player in the team who featured in the XI that most recently played in Asia.

Pakistan are considering two debutants of their own, with off-spinner Bilal Asif expected to play after legspinner Shadab Khan was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Uncapped left-arm quick Mir Hamza is hoping to partner Mohammad Abbas with the new ball.

Australia XI: Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Tim Paine (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Jon Holland