Shane Warne picks his Australian XI for 1st India Test in Pune

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Pune, Feb 22: Australia under the leadership of Steve Smith will begin a challenging Test series against World No. 1 India from Thursday (February 23) at Pune.

The two teams will lock horns at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in the opening Test of the four-match series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

With a lot at stake for the Australian side, whose performance in the Indian sub-continent has been below par, Smith and his boys would be hoping to do a major upsent and defeat the Indian side, which is invincible at home.

Former Australian legend Shane Warne has picked up his probable XI for Australia for the opening Test against India.

Here is the Probable XI Australian team which Warne feels would feature against hosts at Pune:

1. David Warner

2. Shaun Marsh

3. Steve Smith (captain)

4. Peter Handscomb

5. Glenn Maxwell

6. Mitchell Marsh

7. Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper)

8. Mitchell Starc

9. Mitchell Swepson

10. Nathan Lyon

11. Josh Hazlewood

Opener David Warner and Shaun Marsh have fair enough knowledge of playing in Indian conditions.

Skipper Smith, team's batting mainstay, would come into bat at No.3 followed by young Handscombe.

The hosts could have batting all-rounders in Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh. Wade, Starc and Swepson could bat too and would thus strengthen the lower order.

The team revealed by Warne looks a settled side having a perfect balance of experience and youth. However, only four players in this probable line-up have an experience of playing on Indian pitches.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see if Warne's prediction matches with skipper Smith's.

OneIndia News