Clarke weighs in on first Test XI

Australia’s Test hopefuls have 11 days to prove their wares with the first Commonwealth Bank Test squad set to be named on October 28 in Perth.

Between now (Monday) and then there are only five Matador BBQs One-Day Cup matches and one round of Sheffield Shield cricket for Australia’s Test aspirants to push their case ahead of the opening Test of the summer against South Africa at the WACA Ground starting on Movember 3.

Beginning on October 25, the first round of the first-class season will feature three day-night matches in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth, with the first Test squad to be named on day four. 

According to former Australia captain Mark Taylor, six spots are up for grabs, with only captain Steve Smith, deputy David Warner, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc the certain starters.

Smith and Warner will sit out the remainder of the Matador Cup, as will Starc who continues his rehab on a gruesome leg injury he sustained last month in a fielding mishap.

However, Starc is on track for the Blues’ Shield match at the Gabba against Queensland having bowled in Brisbane last week and is now only wearing a compression bandage on the injured limb.

Hazlewood and Nevill will likely play for NSW in their remaining Matador Cup fixtures and the pink-ball Shield clash.

While Taylor says more than half the Test XI is up in the air, former Australia skipper Michael Clarke believes spinner Nathan Lyon and allrounder Mitchell Marsh will retain their spots in the starting side.

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Clarke also says Usman Khawaja, who was dropped for Australia’s most recent Test against Sri Lanka In August, will return to the XI and that the third seam bowler spot is down to a choice between Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird. 

"Whatever it is it’s going to be good team," Clarke said Monday at the launch of his autobiography My Story. 

"I’d like to see Starcy back playing, he’ll be big for us at the start of the summer. 

"Hazlewood, Lyon will be there.  Mitchell Marsh will be there. 

"The third quick is going to be a tough one, probably Jackson Bird or Peter Siddle are fighting for that position at the moment. 

"Pat Cummins, I like the look of him the other day in the Matador (Cup) the other day but I don’t know if he’s ready for Test cricket."

Khawaja’s return could be at the expense of incumbent Test opener Shaun Marsh after the Western Australian suffered a low grade tear while batting in the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup on Saturday.