AUS vs PAK: Australia and Pakistan announce their playing XI for the first Test

AUS vs PAK: The Test cricket season is on and it?ll begin with Australia taking on Pakistan in the three-match series at their home. The series between the two heavyweights will begin from 14th December in Perth. The focus will then shift towards the second match which will be played from 27th December in Melbourne. The final match will happen in Sydney on 3rd January.

AUS vs PAK: Australia and Pakistan announce their playing XI for the first Test

With first AUS vs PAK game just a few hours away from now, both teams have announced their playing XI for the game. It?ll be a staggering encounter to watch as both the sides over the years have been extremely competitive in the Tests cricket and would be eager to have a go at each other. 

Coming to Australian XI, David Warner will be opening the innings alongside Usman Khawaja. The duo have been really successful as a pair. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will be batting at No.3 and No.4 respectively. They have been backbone of the team in this format.?

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Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh will be handling the middle order in AUS vs PAK for Australia. They have been one of the main reason behind the team?s success and their power-hitting ability have changed the game. Along with them, Alex Carey has been backed as keeper. 

The pace trio of skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will be back. They will be eager to go on the green track of Perth. Nathan Lyon is the only spinner in the team. He will be making his comeback after the Ashes, where he was ruled out due to injury. 

On the other hand, Pakistan will be opening with Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique. New skipper Shan Masood, who scored 200 runs in a practice game, has slotted himself at No.3. The top 3 will be crucial if Pakistan has to fancy their chances of winning. 

Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel will be key for Pakistan in the middle order along with keeper Sarfaraz Khan. Agha Salman and Faheem Ashraf will be the two all-rounders in the Pakistan XI for the AUS vs PAK first game. 

Pakistan has handed debut caps to Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shahzad. The duo will be handling the pace bowling departments along with Shaheen Afridi, who will no doubt be important for his side in the game. 

AUS vs PAK: Australia and Pakistan announce their playing XI for the first Test

Here?s the Australian XI for the first AUS vs PAK Test:?

David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Here?s Pakistan XI for the first AUS vs PAK Test: 

Imam-Ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad