Australia take on West Indies in a five-match T20I series with several prominent players opting out of the tour – here’s a glance at how the Australia XI might look for the first T20I.

Justin Langer all but confirmed a return for journeyman Dan Christian a day ahead of the first T20I against West Indies. Christian, who last appeared in an international game for Australia in 2017, has been in good form in T20 leagues around the globe. Another all-rounder, Mitchell Marsh, is set to occupy the key No.3 position where Steve Smith usually bats. An elbow injury kept Smith out of the series, although it’s still debatable if he can make the best Australia XI for the T20 World Cup.

“Mitch Marsh is going to bat three,” Langer told SEN on Friday. “We see him as a bit of an enforcer up there, he faces fast bowling as well as anyone around the place. He hits the ball with brutal power and we’re looking forward to giving him a chance at the top of the order.”

With a couple of batting all-rounders in the mix, Langer has hinted at switching to a seven batsmen-four bowlers template.

Going by cues from Langer, and our own analysis, we look at how the Aussies might line up for the first T20I in the absence of their big stars.

Openers

Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Josh Philippe and Alex Carey opened the batting in the two intra-squad practice games Australia played in the build up to the series in the Caribbean Islands. However, it is likely that Finch and Wade will open the batting with Carey unlikely to make the XI itself. Philippe could be in for a middle-order role despite his stirring  43-ball 67 in the practice match according to Langer.

Middle-order

With Marsh set to bat at No.3, a position where Australia seemed to be keen to play an all-rounder – Moises Henriques was the other all-rounder to bat at No.3 in the practice game – Philippe could come in at No.4 with Ben McDermott and Henriques slotting in behind him. This would leave no room for the likes of Ashton Turner or Alex Carey, especially as Dan Christian is likely to be the finisher at No.7.

Wicketkeeper

Philippe, Wade, McDermott and Carey are the wicketkeepers in the squad. Three of those four could be in the starting XI, which would likely mean that Philippe takes the gloves with Wade useful as a part-timer if needed. The gloves could change hands as the series goes on, however.

Spinners

Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar have 38 and 37 wickets respectively in T20Is since the end of the 2016 T20 World Cup, the most by any Australian bowlers. The two are certain starters for the first T20I against West Indies, particularly given how the South African duo of George Linde and Tabraiz Shamsi restricted the Windies big hitters. The other spinner in the squad is Mitchell Swepson and he could come in at some point in place of one of the two or as a third spinning option with Agar moving into the top seven.

Fast bowlers

Australia are likely to rotate their quicker bowlers in the XI through the series. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Wes Agar, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff and Riley Meredith are in the mix. Starc and Meredith could start upfront in the first T20I, with the senior quick position likely to switch between Starc and Hazlewood during the course of the series.

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