New Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed batsman Travis Head and fast bowler Mitchell Starc will play in the first Ashes Test.
Cummins said that Head is set to be picked ahead of Usman Khawaja in this week’s first Ashes Test at the Gabba, while the early call on left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, as a new ball bowler, means the hosts have now settled on a line-up well ahead of Wednesday’s toss.
“It was a tight one, the selectors make the call, but both are really good options, with really strong form,” said Cummins at a pre-Series media event with both team captains on Sunday.
Head was dropped after the Boxing Day Test against India last year, and Cummins said the way he has responded gave him a narrow edge over the veteran Khawaja. “Experience is great from Uzzie [Khawaja] and were really lucky to have that in the squad
But Travis been playing a lot for us the last couple of years, and he’s gone away and churned out runs over in England and here in Australia and we feel like he’s really ready to go.”
