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AUS vs BAN 1st Test playing XI: Australia lineup as Travis Head to open after Ashes heroics originally appeared on Cricket News .
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Travis Head is set to open for Australia against Bangladesh after his Ashes heroics.
Pat Cummins returns to lead a full-strength Australia attack in Darwin.
Jake Weatherald is in line for a Test debut alongside Head at the top.
AUS vs BAN 1st Test playing XI: Australia name settled side for Darwin opener
Australia begin their two-match Test series against Bangladesh on August 13 at the Marrara Stadium in Darwin, with valuable World Test Championship 2025-27 points on offer as the hosts return to red-ball action for the first time since the Ashes. Captain Pat Cummins is back to lead a settled, senior-looking outfit.
The home side head into the series as overwhelming favourites, having won five of their six previous Tests against Bangladesh and sitting on top of the World Test Championship standings.
Bangladesh, who have not played a Test in Australia for 23 years, endured a chastening warm-up, bowled out for just 54 by a Cricket Australia XI.
Australia have gone in with a full-strength squad after staying away for more than six months from Test cricket. The trio of Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all return after featuring only sparingly in the Ashes, further strengthening an already formidable line-up.
The most notable selection call surrounds the top of the order, where Travis Head is set to continue his new role as opener following his blistering Ashes campaign.
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Why Travis Head is set to open for Australia vs Bangladesh
Head's move up the order has been one of the standout stories of Australia's recent Test cricket. Having been shifted to open during the Ashes, the left-hander's aggressive strokeplay proved a major weapon, and the selectors are keen to persist with the experiment.
He is expected to partner debutant Jake Weatherald, with the pair tasked with forging a long-term opening combination. Head has admitted he is "not a true opener", but Australia clearly sees the value in unleashing his attacking instincts against the new ball, particularly against a Bangladesh attack likely to struggle for consistency.
The reshuffle pushes the experienced Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith into the middle order, with Smith chasing a century against one of the few WTC opponents missing from his list. Cameron Green and Beau Webster provide the all-round balance, while Alex Carey keeps wicket.
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Australia's XI vs Bangladesh for 1st Test at Darwin
Travis Head
Jake Weatherald
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Cameron Green
Beau Webster
Alex Carey (WK)
Pat Cummins (C)
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
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Why Australia's batting depth makes them near-unbeatable in Darwin
On paper, this is a mismatch, and the selection of Head as an aggressive opener only underlines Australia's confidence. A batting order boasting Smith, Labuschagne, Green and Webster below a destructive top three offers depth few teams in world cricket can rival, and against a Bangladesh side low on confidence, the runs should flow freely.
The bigger picture is Australia's WTC ambitions, with every session carrying points in the race towards the 2027 final.
Cummins will want his side to be ruthless rather than complacent, wrapping up quick, emphatic wins to bolster their percentage. Barring a dramatic upset, the only real question in Darwin is the margin of Australia's superiority rather than the result itself.
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