Hazlewood made interesting pick for the spinner based on home and away conditions.
Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood formed a Test XI consisting of India and Australia cricketers. Unlike the usual eleven, Hazlewood picked bowlers first instead of the openers. The pacer made some interesting picks in the side and also had two competitors for few positions in the XI.
Hazlewood picked himself along with Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling attack. The trio looks good enough to dismantle any batting line-up.
Talking to WION, he said, “Starting from quicks, I will have myself in (laughs) with Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah."
Hazlewood picked R Ashwin and Nathan Lyon both for the same spot in the eleven. He would name Lyon in the XI if the game is played in Australia and if it's in India, Ashwin would get in.
“In Australian conditions, I will have Nathan Lyon and in Indian conditions, Ravichandran Ashwin,” he said.
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India opener Mayank Agarwal was paired up with David Warner for the opening spot. He further named Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Steve Smith in the batting line up.
“Openers would be Mayank Agarwal – taking future in consideration – and David Warner. Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara are automatic picks at three, four and five.
“At no. six…I will have Marnus Labuschagne or Rohit Sharma gave their ability to change the game,” said the Aussie pacer.
India will travel to Australia in December 2020 for four Tests, 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is. The last time they went there, Virat Kohli and co. created history with a Test series win.
Hazlewood called the upcoming India tour to Australia as intense as Ashes. “Obviously we have got Steve (Smith) and David (Warner) back and Marnus (Labuschagne) has come leaps and bounds. The bowling attack is similar to what it was but it is the batting which now has a lot more depth and experiences from the last time India toured. India’s bowling attack got us last time and that is what we don’t like to happen on our home soil. So we want to get India in that department.
"But as you said, everyone is going to watch this series. It has almost reached the point where it has reached a point like the Ashes now. It is a huge series for both teams and we need to give a payback to India after last time,” Hazlewood added.
Here is the India-Australia combined XI:
Mayank Agarwal, David Warner, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Marnus Labuschagne/Rohit Sharma, Tim Paine (wk), Nathan Lyon/Ravichandran Ashwin, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Jasprit Bumrah.
(WITH WION INPUTS)