Cricket great Ricky Ponting has named his Australia XI to face India in the first Test in Adelaide.
Ponting is sticking with incumbent opener Joe Burns despite a wretched run of form at first-class level this season, scoring just 62 runs in nine innings.
Burns scored 4, 0, 0 and 1 for Australia A in two tour matches against India but Ponting would stick with the Queenslander, despite calls for him to be dropped.
“I’m sticking with Joe Burns,” Ponting told 7 Cricket.
“I’ll have a lot of messages and suggestions coming my way that he hasn’t scored enough runs to stay in the side, but I’m keeping him in there.
“40 in his last Test innings, he’s made four Test match hundreds, averages almost 40 – I’m sticking with him and showing some faith.”
The former Australian captain would elevate Matthew Wade to the top of the order and hand a Test debut to promising all-rounder Cameron Green.
“What I am doing is moving Matthew Wade up to the top of the order. It gives a left-hand, right-hand combination,” Ponting said.
“We saw last time India were out here, when we had two left-handers in our top order, the Indian bowling attack absolutely dominated the two lefties.
“I know I’ll cause a bit of a stir here, but that’s the way I’d go.”
Marcus Harris and Moises Henriques have been added to Australia’s squad in preparation for the day-night series opener at Adelaide Oval starting on Thursday.
Below is Ricky Ponting's Aussie XI:
Matthew Wade
Joe Burns
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Cameron Green (pending fitness)
Tim Paine
Pat Cummins
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood
Nathan Lyon
This is @RickyPonting's first Test team:
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2020
Matthew Wade
Joe Burns
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Cameron Green (pending fitness)
Tim Paine
Pat Cummins
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood
Nathan Lyon
And the explanations in the video ⤵️ #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/pr9IZ1BoFd