Australia announce playing XI for first Test vs Bangladesh, Scott Boland dropped, Josh Hazlewood in

Australia has finalised its lineup for the opening Test against Bangladesh, opting to bring back veteran quick Josh Hazlewood over Scott Boland. The decision allows the home side to reassemble its premier fast-bowling triumvirate of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Hazlewood for their first red-ball outing in eight months. Skipper Cummins verified the squad selection on match eve, confirming Boland's omission to make way for Hazlewood's return.

Australia's Test squad for Bangladesh series revealed

The side also welcomes back elite off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who has recovered from the hamstring tear that curtailed his involvement in the latter half of the Ashes. Meanwhile, Australia is maintaining a dual-allrounder strategy in the middle order, with Cameron Green holding onto his position beside Beau Webster to provide extra seam-bowling depth.

ALSO READ: Big update on Washington Sundar's availability for IND vs SL 2nd Test amidst injury concerns

Despite stepping in to play all five Ashes matches last summer while Cummins, Hazlewood, and Lyon cycled through various injuries, Boland finds himself on the sidelines. Nevertheless, team management views him as a crucial asset moving forward, given Australia's grueling schedule of up to 21 Test matches over the next year.

Scott Boland out, Josh Hazlewood in

Excluding Scott Boland and Josh Inglis from the starting lineup leaves the pair as the only members of the 13-man squad sitting out Australia's first Test match in Darwin in more than twenty years. Captain Pat Cummins acknowledged the gravity of omitting Boland, whose career Test average stands at an extraordinary 18.58 across 19 appearances.

The Victorian pacer had been on his longest uninterrupted run in the side, featuring in six consecutive Tests after replacing Nathan Lyon during last year's West Indies tour—a match highlighted by his dramatic hat-trick.

ALSO READ: IND vs AFG T20I series dates revealed, matches to be played in Delhi after BCCI approval

Despite his consistent brilliance when called upon, hierarchy among the front-line pacers remains intact. Aside from the opening match of the 2023 Ashes, where he was selected ahead of Mitchell Starc, Boland has consistently yielded his spot whenever Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood have been fully fit and available.

The two-match series kicks off at Darwin’s Marrara Stadium from August 13 to 17, before shifting to the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay for the second Test between August 22 and 26.

Australia's playing XI for first Test vs Bangladesh:

Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood.

Bangladesh squad fir first Test against Australia:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan.