IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Mitchell Marsh returns as Australia announce Playing XI

IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Mitch Marsh returns to the side with an of 11 across 11 knocks since the 96 he scored in South Africa in March

Australia announced their playing XI on for the upcoming Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Making just one change in the team, the Aussies have brought in all-rounder Mitchell Marsh who missed the games in Adelaide and Perth.

Marsh has replaced batsman Peter Handscomb in the team who has been struggling with a lean form so far. He has scored 34, 14, 7 and 13 across the four innings in Adelaide and Perth.

“It’s a long series, our bowlers have had a really big workload and we feel we’re going to need Mitch’s bowling at some point,” Paine said at the pre-match press conference. “I’m sure Pete would be upset. I think he’s had conversations with the selectors that there’s a few things they would like him to work on and Pete is open to that.”

“Pete at his best is going to score a lot of Test runs and not just his batting, he brings a hell of a lot to our side in terms of his fielding, his experience and just the way he generally goes about his cricket. We’re sure he’ll score a lot more runs for Australia,” he added.

Tim Paine explains the change to Australia’s XI for the Boxing Day Test #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/kJAWiMebFV

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 25, 2018

At the same time, Paine also stated that Handscomb would be back in contention for the fourth Test in Sydney. The Sydney Cricket Ground homes the most spin-friendly of the Australian pitches and Handscomb is one of their best players of spin.

 “Going to Sydney, a place where it normally spins, I think people come back into the fold pretty quickly because he's renowned as probably our best player of spin,” Paine said. "I know he'll be doing everything he can to get back into the side.”

The Australia Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Mitch Marsh returns to the side with an of 11 across 11 knocks since the 96 he scored in South Africa in March.