Pak vs Aus: Pat Cummins announces squad for Perth Test against Pakistan

• First Pak-Aus Test starts tomorrow.
• Pakistan is yet to announce squad.
• Sajid Khan has joined team in Perth.

PERTH: Australian skipper Pat Cummins on Wednesday named the playing XI for the first Test match of the series against Pakistan, reappointing Travis Head as co vice-captain.

The two teams are in Perth for the opening game of the three-match Benaud-Qadir Trophy. 

There were no other surprises in the squad announced by the Aussie captain Cummins for the men’s international summer season, however, Smith will remain the first option to take the captaincy reins in Cummins’ absence.

There is just one change to the most recent side that played in the Ashes finale in August at The Oval, with the fit-again Nathan Lyon returning in place of Todd Murphy.

The big three pace bowlers — Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood — will reunite, fresh off leading Australia to World Cup glory last month.

David Warner will open the batting after the veteran spent much of the build-up to this match in the spotlight over his place in the team.

If selected, the 37-year-old will hang up the boots following this series' final match in Sydney.

Mitch Marsh will play in front of his home crowd, and in a Test at Perth Stadium for the first time, with the 32-year-old remaining the preferred allrounder over Cameron Green after he edged out his state teammate during the Ashes.

Travis Head had previously been a vice-captain of the Test side during the Tim Paine era.

Australia squad: (first Test only) Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Test series schedule

• First Test: December 14-18, Perth Stadium
• Second Test: December 26-30, MCG
• Third Test: January 3-7, SCG