Khawaja, Coulter-Nile in for Aussies

Usman Khawaja and Nathan Coulter-Nile have won the final two spots in Australia’s XI for their World Cup opener against Afghanistan in Bristol.

Australia are bowling first after Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib won the toss at the Bristol County Ground, with Khawaja slotting into the Australian XI at No.3 behind openers Finch and David Warner, having edged out Shaun Marsh for the final batting spot.

Coulter-Nile fills the final slot in the bowling attack – beating out Jason Behrendorff, Kane Richardson and Nathan Lyon for the berth – alongside spearheads Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, spinner Adam Zampa and allrounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

Warner and Smith are playing their first official games for Australia in over a year, with Warner overcoming a glute strain to take his place in the XI.

Warner was cleared to play on Friday after passing a fitness test at training the previous day.

Speaking on the eve of the match, Finch said selectors faced a difficult decision.

"It's always really tough early in the tournament especially when everyone is coming off really good form in the previous series we've played,” Finch said on Friday.

"Everyone's hitting the ball well in the nets, everyone is bowling well. It's a real positive – anytime anyone's been given an opportunity, everyone has taken it, which makes selection so hard, but it's a good position to be in all the same."

Warner's return means splitting up the Finch-Khawaja union that has statistically proved Australia's most successful ever ODI opening partnership.

But Warner’s record is undeniable – he has scored 14 ODI tons (only Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist have more among Australians), while averaging 43.43.

Finch, one ODI hundred behind Warner on 13, was optimistic either combination could work and that Khawaja was adaptable enough to move down to first drop.

"Dave and I have had a great partnership over the years. That was a pretty key part of our 2015 World Cup win," Finch explained.

"I've known them both (Khawaja and Warner) for a long time, I've batted with them both for a long time.

"Whichever way we decided to go with that, it didn't faze me either way.”

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Afghanistan XI: Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Hazrat Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib (c), Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 22: (warm-up) Australia beat West Indies by seven wickets

May 25: (warm-up) Australia beat England by 12 runs

May 27: (warm-up) Australia beat Sri Lanka by five wickets

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE