Ashes 2019, 4th Test: Smith, Starc Return As Australia Win Toss, Opt To Bat First At Old Trafford

Ashes 2019, 4th Test: Australia Win Toss, Opt To Bat First At Old Trafford

Australia captain Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat in the fourth Ashes Test against England beginning Wednesday at the Old Trafford. Australia have brought in left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith in place of James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja. Usman Khawaja was dropped owing to his poor run of form in the ongoing series. On the other hand, England have also made one change to their Playing XI, which featured in the last match at Headingley by including right-arm fast bowler Craig Overton for Chris Woakes. The five-match series is currently evenly poised tied at 1-1. Australia took the lead in the series by winning the Birmingham Test by a whopping margin of 251 runs, but the hosts leveled the series by edging the Aussies in the tantalizing Leeds Test. Playing XIs: Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. England: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (c), Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler, Craig Overton, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach.