AUS vs ENG: Australia Playing 11 Announced for Ashes 5th Test

AUS vs ENG: In a big breaking news, Australia have once again announced their playing 11 changes for the upcoming fifth and final Ashes 2021-22 Test match against England scheduled to start from 14 January, 2022 at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Australia and England will fight out in the second day-night Test of this five-match Test series after that sensational thrilling draw in Sydney. Australia are currently leading the Ashes with an unassailable lead of 3-0.

AUS vs ENG: Australia Playing 11 Announced for Ashes 5th Test

Aussie captain Pat Cummins has revealed that Usman Khawaja will open the batting in place of Marcus Harris in the fifth and final Test match while Travis Head also makes a return into the playing 11 after missing the last game due to Covid. Khawaja has retained his spot after his outstanding twin centuries on his return to Test cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, Cummins also stated that the hosts will take a decision regarding the final playing 11 after the last training session tonight as the pace bowling duo of Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland are struggling with injury concerns.

Australia Playing 11 (likely)

David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland/Jhye Richardson.

Related: 5 Changes in England Playing XI for Ashes 5th Test?

“Scotty’s ribs are the only factor. If he’s not fine, Jhye and Michael Neser are both fit and we’ll work that out this arvo,” Pat Cummins said in the pre-match press conference.

Travis Head will come into the team for Marcus Harris.

A decision on the final XI will be made after a training session at Blundstone Arena tonight ?? #Ashes pic.twitter.com/oawWaZTblu

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 13, 2022

Related: Australia vs England 5th Test Today Match Prediction

Australia vs England, Ashes 2021-22

On the other hand, according to the recent media reports, England are likely to make as many as five changes to their playing 11 from that miraculous drawn Sydney Test match. England’s wicket-keeper batter Jos Buttler has already been ruled out of the fifth and final Test match due to a finger injury. However, if the reports are to be believed, James Anderson and Haseeb Hameed could face the axe for Ollie Robinson and Rory Burns return into England playing 11. It is also very much certain that Sam Billings will make his Test debut in place of Buttler while Ollie Pope might come in for Jonny Bairstow who is too struggling with injury issues.