Ponting predicts Aussie XI shake-up

Ricky Ponting believes Aaron Finch is set to face the chop and Usman Khawaja will be promoted to open in his place, with the former skipper also tipping Marnus Labuschagne to slot into number four for Australia's crucial New Year's Test against India.

After making his Test debut against Pakistan in the UAE in October, Labuschagne was added to the Australia squad for the iconic Sydney Test following their comprehensive 137-run defeat on Sunday that saw India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The microscope has been heavily focused on Australia’s top order after folding for 151 in their first innings at the MCG, with opener Aaron Finch (97 runs at an average of 16 in the ongoing series) and vice-captain Mitch Marsh (who scored 9 and 10 after being recalled for the MCG Test) under pressure to hold their spots.

Labuschagne managed only modest scores of 0, 13, 25 and 43 in his debut series in the Middle East but had a major impact both with his brisk leg-spinners (seven wickets at 22) and his livewire fielding (which netted him three catches and a run-out).

Ponting expects the Queenslander will come into Australia's XI at Finch's expense, with Khawaja to move up from No.3 to open with Marcus Harris, Shaun Marsh to go up to first drop ahead of Labuschagne and the rest of the incumbent middle order.

"I've seen Labuschagne has come into the line-up so to me straightaway that means Finch has to miss out and Usman will open the batting, I'd imagine," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"That's how it looks – Labuschagne probably bats four, (Travis) Head five and Mitch Marsh six – I think that's the way they're going to line up.

"I can't really think what else they can do.

"The selectors and the captain and coach have obviously had a long chat about what they want and what they expect. We'll see how they line up."

Finch, the captain of Australia's limited-over sides, has managed two half-centuries in 10 innings opening the batting since his debut in Dubai.

After an encouraging start to his Test career against Pakistan, selectors ignored calls for him to move down the order given his lack of experience against the new ball in Australia. Victoria batted him at three in his only JLT Sheffield Shield game ahead of the Domain Test campaign against India.

Labuschagne has done little with the bat to push his case for a recall since his initial foray into international cricket, managing just two fifties for the Bulls so far this summer, though one of those was against a full-strength NSW side boasting Australia’s Test attack. In the KFC BBL, the 24-year-old has to date been overlooked for the Brisbane Heat.

The SCG is traditionally Australia's most spin-friendly Test venue and Ponting believes Labuschagne could play a role as the second spinner behind Nathan Lyon. 

"He looked impressive a couple of times in the UAE in the Tests over there," Ponting continued.

"(He) bowled well, which is something they're probably thinking about for the SCG Test as well.

"To be honest I haven’t seen a lot of him … I'll reserve my judgment until I see a little more."

Ponting admits there are worrying signs for the Australian top order.

The hosts have just one batsman among the series' leading five run-scorers (Travis Head, with 217 runs at 36) while no Australian has managed a century.

Ponting suggests that, given the technical problems plaguing Australia's batters are unlikely to be corrected in the short turnaround between the Melbourne and Sydney Tests, their best chance of finding form in the series finale rests on how they adjust mentally.

Key to overseeing that is coach Justin Langer, whom Ponting believes would not have ranted and raved in the dressing room following Australia’s third defeat from his five-Test tenure.

"Sometimes you’ve got to pick your moments to say nothing," Ponting explained. "Knowing Justin, he'd be pretty frustrated with the way things have gone, particularly this week.

"He was obviously delighted with how things went the week before with the win over in Perth but as we can see, things can change pretty quickly in this game.

"I'd imagine things will be pretty quiet in the camp this week.

"There are mental mistakes being made and a lot of technical issues that need to be addressed pretty quickly.

"But they're not going to find those (answers) in three days.

"So it's going to come down more to the mental side of things and we'll see if they're up for the battle or not in Sydney.

"There's a still a series on the line being 2-1 down, they have to win in Sydney so let's hope they respond really well."

Having also questioned India's slow batting tactics in their first innings in Melbourne, Ponting praised Virat Kohli's leadership and admitted their approach on days one and two of the Test was justified in hindsight.

He also singled out their bowling attack as a key factor in their victory after bowling Australia out for 151 and 261 in Melbourne, noting how each of bowlers have all complemented one another.

"You can't criticise, they're 2-1 up in the series, they did everything perfectly in Melbourne," Ponting said of India.

"There was a chance for a few of us to be critical after the first couple of days after how slow they batted, but they must have understood the conditions better than some of us did because It certainly did start to play some tricks day three and four.

"So full credit to (Kohli). He's got a good attack at his disposal … It's certainly their best attack to come to Australia. They're all slightly different as well – to pick a really good attack, you've got to have guys that are a bit different and all work really well.

"That's what India have done really well."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: India won by 31 runs

Dec 14-18: Australia won by 146 runs

Dec 26-30: India won by 137 runs

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar