Usman Khawaja to lead Australia in tour match; Carey included
Usman Khawaja shall lead the Australian team in their final tour match of the Ashes campaign. Test captain Tim Paine shall rest from the game along with six other regular players. Alex Carey, currently plundering runs in England, has been included for the three-day tour game against Derbyshire.
After a stirring comeback from England in the third Test at Headingley, the five-match Ashes series is currently levelled at 1-1. Australia shall engage in the tour match which begins on 29th August (Thursday) before playing the final two Tests of the series.
Tim Paine, the current Australian captain and wicketkeeper, shall be resting from this fixture. David Warner, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon will also rest from the practice match. With seven rested players, the visitors needed to find an extra man to complete their playing XI against Derbyshire.
Alex Carey is yet to make a debut in Test cricket. He earned the call-up on basis of his performance in the 2019 World Cup followed by county adventures. Playing for Sussex, Carey has been phenomenal in the domestic T20 league. He also played as a specialist batsman in a first-class game and scored 56 and 69 not out against Middlesex. The wicketkeeper will rejoin his county side after the tour game.
Khawaja will captain the side against a team which he represented briefly in 2011. Steve Smith returns after missing the third Test due to concussion. Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Michael Neser and Mitchell Marsh will form the pace attack with Marnus Labuschagne being the lead spinner. Matthew Wade and Cameron Bancroft, both capable of donning the gloves shall play as specialist batsmen.
Australia XI to face Derbyshire:
Usman Khawaja (c), Cameron Bancroft, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade.
JUST IN: A new skipper and a new face have been named in Australia’s XI for their tour game this week https://t.co/3qsdknd7Jt #Ashes pic.twitter.com/0CGUOWM9qV
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 28, 2019
