Head reappointed vice-captain as Australia, Pakistan name XIs

Travis Head has been reappointed Australia’s Test vice-captain ahead of the men’s international summer, but Pat Cummins otherwise sprang no surprises in naming the XI for the first NRMA Insurance Test against Pakistan.

Head, fresh off a match-winning hand that fired the Aussies to World Cup glory last month, has been named as co vice-captain alongside Steve Smith, though Smith will remain the first option to take the captaincy reins in Cummins’ absence.

It comes as Cummins confirmed an XI for tomorrow’s Test against Pakistan in Perth that was largely as expected, while the visitors have picked two debutants. 

There is just one change to the most recent side that played in the Ashes finale in August at The Oval, with the fit-again Nathan Lyon returning in place of Todd Murphy.

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

 

Pakistan XI: 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

The big three pace bowlers of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will reunite, fresh off leading Australia to World Cup glory last month.

David Warner will open the batting after the veteran spent much of the build-up to this match in the spotlight over his place in the team.

If selected, the 37-year-old will hang up the boots following this series' final match in Sydney.

Mitch Marsh will play in front of his home crowd, and in a Test at Perth Stadium for the first time, with the 32-year-old remaining the preferred allrounder over Cameron Green after he edged out his state teammate during the Ashes.

Pakistan, meanwhile, named their XI on social media on Wednesday afternoon, confirming fast bowlers Aamir Jamal and Khurram Jamal would play their first Tests. 

With leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed missing due to a knee injury, the tourists have not picked a specialist spinner. Off-spinning allrounder Salman Ali Agha will play alongside seam-bowling allrounder Faheem Ashraf.

There had some local clamour for Australia to blood Lance Morris, the raw speedster from Dunsborough (three hours south of Perth), but Cummins said they picked their best attack.

"Everyone's fit and ready to go," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"Lance has been impressive, really impressive. But every Test match you pick your best XI, it's still a World Test Championship match, you're playing for points. It's Test match for Australia."

Head had previously been a vice captain of the Test side during the Tim Paine era.

His appointment, at 29 years of age, could put him on a path to one day captain the Test team given Smith is 34 and Cummins (30) has made no secret that he does not intend to lead the side for the rest of his career.

"Really excited to have Trav on board as a co-vice captain," said Cummins.

'He's been playing for a long time, he's always been a leader in our group, so we thought it was a good time to formally recognise that.

"Whilst nothing is imminent, Steve is not going to play forever and I daresay I'm not going to captain forever, so we feel like we've got some responsibility to future-proof the team and give opportunities to other leaders."

There is heavy responsibility on the shoulders of Shaheen Shah Afridi to lead the Pakistan attack.

"As a team we talk about adaptability, whether we play in Canberra, whether we play in Karachi, whether we play in Perth, how quickly can guys adapt to different conditions. That's what's most important for me. Good cricketers are always adaptable," said Masood.

NRMA Insurance Test series v Pakistan

First Test: December 14-18, Perth Stadium (1.20pm AEDT)

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG (10.30am AEDT)

Third Test: January 3-7, SCG (10.30am AEDT)

Australia squad: (first Test only) Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi