Aus vs Pak: Australia announce 13-man squad for Sydney Test
The home side leads the three-match series by 2-0
Australia on Sunday announced their 13-man squad for the third and final Test against Pakistan which will be played from January 3-7 at Sydney Cricket Ground.
The home side leads the three-match Test series 2-0 and would aim to start the new year, 2024, on a high note by whitewashing their opponents to make their case stronger for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25.
Squads for third Test
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi
One of Australia’s finest batters of all time who is their second-highest run scorer across formats as well, David Warner, will bid farewell to red-ball cricket in Sydney as confirmed by chief selector George Bailey.
“We look forward to celebrating David Warner’s final Test match and his incredible career at his home ground,” revealed Bailey.
The Green Shirts are likely to make two changes in the third Test. Saim Ayub will take the place of Imam-ul-Haq while Mohammad Wasim Jr will be included in the playing XI over Shaheen Afridi, who will be rested.
Australia beat Pakistan comfortably in the first Test at Perth as they recorded a massive 360-run victory over the visitors but they were met with multiple setbacks in the second Test at Melbourne.
Pakistan managed to get all 20 wickets across the innings and came close to toppling the mighty Aussies’ batting line in the second innings but Abdullah Shafique dropped Mitchell Marsh at 20 when Australia were 46-4, he then went on to score 96 runs.
During their chase of 317 runs, Shan Masood provided his side the much-needed spark with the bat as the left-handed batter scored 60 off 71 balls but Pat Cummins’ late heroics with the ball snatched the victory from Pakistan.
Pakistan will aim to record their win on Australian soil since 1995.
