Jake Weatherald and Travis Head are set to open the innings.

Why Weatherald & Head?

  • Usman Khawaja, Australia’s regular Test opener, is not part of the XI for this Test.

  • Jake Weatherald, a natural top-order batter, has been included specifically to cover the opening slot.

  • Travis Head, although usually a middle-order player, has the experience and technique to step up as opener when required.

  • No other specialist opener is available in the selected XI. Steven Smith, despite past experiments, remains committed to batting at No. 4.

Expected Australian batting order

  1. Jake Weatherald

  2. Travis Head

  3. Marnus Labuschagne

  4. Steven Smith (c)

  5. Cameron Green

  6. Josh Inglis

  7. Alex Carey (wk)

  8. Michael Neser

  9. Mitchell Starc

  10. Scott Boland

  11. Brendan Doggett

Australia will need a solid, composed start from Weatherald and Head as they begin their reply, trailing by 334 runs after England’s first-innings total.

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