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Aust to shuffle slips after Clarke's exit

Mitch Marsh and Mitchell Starc could field at gully in the first Test at the Gabba, where Australia start life after Michael Clarke.

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Source: AAP


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A reshuffled slips cordon will be perhaps the most stark reminder of Australian cricket's changing of the guard in the opening Test against New Zealand.

The retirements of Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson mean almost 15,000 Test runs of experience has left the dressing room.

The exit of the veterans will also be felt out in the field at the Gabba, especially in the case of Clarke and Watson who both had a reliable set of hands in slips.

Vice-captain David Warner is expected to shuffle across to third slip from gully, leaving either Mitch Marsh or Mitchell Starc to step in at the vacant post.

"I've been doing some work in there with Justin Langer in the last month. It's an opportunity for me or Starcy to field in there," Marsh said.

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"It's a handy position if you're bowling plenty of overs to rest and hopefully take a few snares."

Both Starc, a former keeper, and Marsh have experience at gully.

"I'm sneaking back to that wicketkeeping spot, putting a bit of pressure on Nev there," Starc laughed.

"It's nice to get out there and take some catches, I've done some work with Steve Rixon when he was around."

Marsh felt the youthful side would adapt.

"The amount of cricket we've played we've all fielded slip, gully, point. That won't matter too much," he said.

"The only thing that will change is the cordon but we've got experienced guys there."

Usman Khawaja, recalled for his first Test since the 2013 Ashes, fields on the offside for Queensland but doesn't expect to stay there this week.

"I assume somewhere square of the wicket. I have to earn my stripes before I get into the slips," Khawaja said.


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