Shaun and Mitchell Marsh cement spots in Australia’s first Test team, with just one position up for grabs

The most maligned pair in Australian cricket have done enough to avoid the axe for the all-important opening Test of the summer — but Victoria could yet ruin Justin Langer’s first XI plans.

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Australia could have their first Test plans sensationally railroaded by Victoria who have intimated they will refuse to play Aaron Finch as an opener in his only red-ball warm-up.

Selectors are set to resist making wholesale changes for the first Test squad to face India and will largely show faith in the top order that struggled in the UAE desert.

Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun and Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head are all set to be named in Justin Langer’s maiden squad for the home summer, meaning there is only one place left to fill in the top six.

Time to celebrate: both Shaun Marsh (L) and brother Mitchell are both tipped to play in Adelaide. Picture: AFP

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But an extra batsman may need to be found, with selectors likely to name a cover batsman for Khawaja who won’t be given a final pass mark until he’s played a warm-up match next week for Queensland, just four weeks after knee surgery.

Matthew Renshaw and in-form Victorian Marcus Harris would appear to be vying for one position in the squad and the chance to open the batting.

As if Langer doesn’t have enough headaches at the selection table, he may be given another one by Victorian State coach Andrew McDonald who yesterday admitted he strongly disagrees with Australia’s plans to play Finch as an opener for the first Test.

Finch averages just 18 in Shield cricket as an opener and McDonald indicated he would be sticking the Australian ODI captain back in the middle-order for next week’s Shield match — the critical batsman’s only hit against the red ball before the summer kick-off against India in Adelaide on December 6.

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Australian captain Tim Paine declared last week that Finch had “earned the right to open the batting”, but that thinking could change if McDonald holds firm with his firm views in Stateland and robs Finch his only chance of adequate preparation for facing India’s dynamic new ball swing kings.

“We’ve picked him in the middle order in the last three seasons I’ve been coach, so that gives you some thought on where I believe he’s best suited,” McDonald told SEN Radio.

“Look, I think any sort of cricket or any batting in any position for both Finch and Glenn Maxwell to put their hand up for selection, if they get time in the middle from whatever position they bat, I think that’s probably fair preparation for the Test series. Albeit they may not be batting the specific position that they’re going to play in. But that’s not uncommon.

“We’ve got a couple of really good openers that complement each other really nicely at the top of the order. But there’ll no doubt be some conversation around that depending on what the national selectors are going to do and the direction they’ll take.”

McDonald also declared 26-year-old opener Harris was ready for Test cricket.

“He’s matured. He knows his game better than previous seasons,” said McDonald.

Batsman Usman Khawaja is set to overcome a knee injury to take his place in Australa’s batting line-up. Picture: AAP

Former Test great Mike Hussey had implored selectors to show faith in players if they want to bring stability and confidence back to the dressing room and it looks as though that advice will be heeded.

This despite the fact the Australians only posted a score of 300 plus on one occasion in the 1-0 series loss to Pakistan, and Khawaja was the only batsman to make a hundred.

While five of the top six appear locked in, two batting spots remained up for grabs yesterday as Trevor Hohns’ selection panel met in Brisbane ahead of an expected announcement by the end of the week.

Incumbent Marnus Labuschagne was fighting for his position at No.6 amid challenges from the likes of Matthew Wade, Alex Doolan and Tom Cooper — the leading scorers in Sheffield Shield cricket.

Marnus Labuschagne (C) is fighting to hold onto his No.6 spot. Picture: AAP

Renshaw has struggled since being controversially omitted from the side that lost to Pakistan in the UAE, but in the Queenslander’s favour is the fact he received strong backing from Paine and selectors at the time of his dumping in Dubai.

“Absolutely, I think he was told that (he was a key part of the summer plans). As I’ve said this is the team we’ve picked for these conditions,” said Paine back in October of Renshaw’s status in the overall picture.

“… In terms of going forward Matt Renshaw is still a huge part of plans for this team and we expect him to have a really big future.”

AUSTRALIAN SQUAD POSSIBLE: Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw/Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Chris Tremain

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