Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon named in Australia XI for Darwin Test

Australia have named a full-strength XI for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin on Thursday, August 13, selecting Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in the side for the first match of the two-match series.

The selection fields what Australia describe as their strongest available combination despite a schedule that the team expects could include as many as 21 Tests this year, and it brings several senior players back into the Test XI after recent interruptions. Team management made notable calls across both bowling and batting, reshaping the middle order and restoring Lyon to the spin role after his recovery from a hamstring injury. The move ends Scott Boland’s place in the XI for Darwin despite the seamer’s strong form over the last Australian summer and his contribution during the Ashes in the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood.

Nathan Lyon’s inclusion was central to the final composition, with selectors preferring to accommodate a frontline spinner alongside three specialist fast bowlers. Cummins acknowledged the selection dilemma between Boland and Hazlewood and the importance of fitting Lyon into the side, saying, "They're both pretty class, aren't they?" and "We were pretty certain we wanted 'Lyono' in the side, so (it came down to) working out what the make-up of the quicks were." He added: "It's always a pretty tight call. It's one of those ones where there's not much you can say to Scotty other than obviously there's a lot of cricket coming up. ... But he knows his worth and how good he is. I'm sure he'll be out there at some point pretty soon." (Quoted by Cricket.com.au.)

Australia will pair Lyon with their primary pace quartet of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood for the Darwin Test, reuniting a frontline attack that features multiple experienced Test campaigners. Cummins and Hazlewood made only one appearance between them during the last Ashes campaign because of back and leg issues respectively, while Lyon had been sidelined by his hamstring injury; their returns provide Australia with an experienced seam-spin combination for the series opener.

The batting order has been adjusted with Cameron Green promoted to No.5, Steve Smith retaining No.4 and Alex Carey at No.6, while Beau Webster occupies No.7. Openers Jake Weatherald and Travis Head will start the innings, followed by Marnus Labuschagne and Smith before Green, Carey and Webster complete the top seven. Carey had been open to moving up to No.5 following the retirement of Usman Khawaja, but Cummins defended the chosen balance, saying, "'Kez' has won a few games for us at number six," and "We like that combination of him and Webster at six, seven." He added, "We feel like Greeny's a good number five – you can try and get funky, but we thought that's kind of how the team will function the best. Pretty good problem to have when someone like Kez could bat even higher than he is." (Quoted by Cricket.com.au.)

This Test in Darwin is the first meeting between Australia and Bangladesh in Australia since 2003; when the sides previously met on Australian soil in that two-match series, the hosts recorded innings victories in Darwin and Cairns. Australia’s selection for the opener signals they will not be easing into the series, according to the choices made for the playing XI.

The Test in Darwin on Thursday, August 13, will serve as the opener of the two-match series between Australia and Bangladesh.