Hazlewood Back as Australia Confirm Test Playing XI

Josh Hazlewood has been picked to Australia’s XI for the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, with Scott Boland missing out. On the eve of the match, Pat Cummins announced the projected line-up, indicating that Australia’s preferred pace trio will take the pitch together for the first time in over a year, having last done so during the West Indies tour.

The Darwin match also marks Test cricket’s return to the stadium after a 22-year absence. Hazlewood has been sidelined since October, missing the entire Ashes series due to injury, while Cummins made only one appearance against England during that period. Nathan Lyon completes the pace-spin combo, returning to the side after a hamstring injury in Adelaide forced him to withdraw from the Ashes early.

Josh Inglis is the other team member that does not make the XI alongside Boland. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto elected not to unveil his lineup the nite before the Test, citing minor fitness issues in his squad, but he did clarify that wicketkeeper Litton Das had recovered sufficiently to be considered for selection.

Cummins addressed the selection choice at his pre-match media appearance, stating that Lyon’s inclusion came first, and the pace combination was then built around it.

He praised Boland’s status in Australian cricket while emphasising that Hazlewood was the preferred pick for this match, with a lengthy series ahead.

How is the Australian batting order lined up for Darwin?

Cameron Green is ranked fifth, followed by Alex Carey and Beau Webster in sixth and seventh place, respectively. Jake Weatherald and Travis Head maintain their opening partnership, which began during the Ashes. Carey had publicly expressed a desire to go up the order, but Cummins said the wicketkeeper will stay in his current position.

Australia’s XI for their first Test against Bangladesh

Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood