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Still about a month to the first test in Adelaide but I'm looking forward to this series to see if the Aussies can maintain their good form at home. The last home series was a thumping 4- 0 ashes win but as we know a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.

Australia will certainly be the underdogs against the number one test team in the world, which is unusual going into a home summer, however they are not without a chance of winning this series given India's poor previous record in Australia. A lot will depend on whether we can put together a functional batting line up which is capable of scoring at least 300 in the first innings. If that can be done, our bowlers are more than capable of keeping India down to managable scores on pitches that hopefully will suit Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins.

Kohli obviously looms large as a threat and he will no doubt get a few centuries but if we can keep his average for the series at around 40- 50,we will be in with a chance as I think some of their other batsmen will struggle to adapt to the extra pace.

Given Usman is fit I would play the following line up in Adelaide.

Khawaja
Finch
Sean Marsh
Hanscomb
Head
Mitch Marsh
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

So from the last test in UAE, Handscomb, Cummins and Hazlewood in for Labaushane, Siddle and Holland.
If Usman is not fit, Renshaw or Harris could replace him.

mikeh....Kohli scored heavily v the Poms and India lost 4-1....India's bowlers seem to struggle in Aust and our bowlers are our only one positive plus....can't see any many changes to the Pakistan series as both Marsh boys have scored runs, yep Labushcagne will probably go as will Holland and Siddle....though by the end of the summer would love to see some boys playing like Sangha, Phillippe, Harris etc....but won't happen if the team is winning...bit of a catch 22 I guess.

Shaun Marsh is a lock in for the summer after that fantastic innings yesterday. Renshaw failed to push his claims and Jhye Richardson and Daniel Worrell both put in excellent bowling efforts. Moises Henriques scored 150 but I don't think he would be in serious contention. Still sticking with the team I named above.

Seems like Wade could be a dark horse for selection....making runs as per the JL selection mandate......can't see many changes from that last Pakistan collapse TBH.....just for balance can see Uzzie going back to 3 and pushing all the other bats down a peg in the batting order....opening wise Harris deserves a chance as he has regularly made runs for the top team in the shield so far....

Finch. Harris Uzzie, Head/Hanscombe, SMarsh MMarsh Paine Cummins Starc Lyon Hazlewood...with Head/Hanscombe 12th man....doesn't exude confidence though...only Finch out of that lot is due a score....all the rest have made runs over the last month and are a due a failure....out of interest what has Paine done so far?....and be interesting to see if the big 3 fast boys are given a test or 3 to find their radar before other shield wicket takers get a sniff....all 3 did little in the ODI and shield game so far wicket wise....only Lyon really cemented his spot.

Hazlewood took a 4 for in the 2nd innings V Queensland Freezin, agreed that Starc and Cummins didnt do a lot. Thats why its important that they have another shield game to tune up ( even though its against WA: )
I would be surprised if Wade gets a go, there seemed to be a line put through his name when he was last dropped. Harris is a real chance though seeing that Renshaw has not set the world on fire.

Cummins took a 3 for in that game too Mike & Freeze in the QLD 1st Innings...the real concern is Starc's complete lack of form for mine!

Rain has stopped play .16.1 overs into Aust 20 overs.Maxwell and Stoines on fire.Another fail for Darcy Short.Superstar in the BBL.

It means nothing to the test series but the Aussies will take any win they can get this season. For once the batsmen fired although the Indian bowling and fielding was well below par. Zampa was the key bowler in the Australian attack with 2-22 from 4 overs and he should be playing more often in the 50 over games as well.

Australia squad
Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Chris Tremain, Peter Siddle, Peter Handscomb

Well done to Marcus Harris, he has been consistently making runs for Victoria over the past few years. Will probably mean that Usman will bat at 3 and Tremain, Siddle and Handscomb will be the extras

Great to see Harris get a debut, not sure why Siddle is even there TBH...surely on performances alone the likes of Richardson, Boland and Bird should of gotten in the squad before Siddle.....pretty straight forward side picked.....4 lefties in top 6 if Head gets the nod over Handscomb.....reckon one of India's spinners will be licking their lips at that thought....