National selectors are set to call upon fresh faces and seasoned veterans in one of the most heavily depleted Australian Test squads in recent memory.
The monumental task facing Justin Langer in his first red-ball campaign since taking the national coaching reins will be underscored on Tuesday when he unveils a 15-man squad to face Pakistan in two Tests in the UAE next month.
Australia haven't won a Test series in Asia since 2011 and will be without suspended trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft as well as injured quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
West Australian Jhye Richardson, part of the travelling party for Australia's doomed tour of South Africa earlier this year, is tipped to benefit from the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood and share the new ball with Mitchell Starc.
Victoria's Chris Tremain and Queensland's Michael Neser, the two leading wicket-takers in the Sheffield Shield last season, are also vying for Test debuts while 33-year-old Peter Siddle is a chance for a recall given his strong county form.
Veteran tweaker Jon Holland is set to partner offspinner Nathan Lyon on turning tracks after claiming a nine-wicket haul for Australia A in India last week.
Holland, who played two Tests in Sri Lanka in 2016, is likely to be joined in the squad by fellow left-arm spinner Ashton Agar.
The make-up of Australia's batting is less certain.
An in-form Usman Khawaja has done enough to retain his spot at the top of the order alongside Shaun Marsh and Matt Renshaw.
Joe Burns played in the final Test in South Africa but there is a growing expectation Aaron Finch will earn a call-up on the back of his outstanding white-ball form.
Skipper Tim Paine and likely vice-captain Mitchell Marsh are locks in the middle order and Glenn Maxwell, a proven subcontinent performer who was held back from the Australia A tour of India, is also expected to be named.
But Peter Handscomb's red-ball run drought has left him in danger of losing his spot with Travis Head and Queensland bolter Marnus Labuschagne - last year's second-leading scorer in the Sheffield Shield - also in contention.
Handscomb's ability to fill in as wicketkeeper could prove to be his saving grace.
Australia were smashed by Pakistan in a 2-0 whitewash the last time they played Tests in the UAE in 2014.
Langer's men will play Tests in Dubai, starting October 7, and Abu Dhabi before taking on the world's No.1-ranked Twenty20 side in three T20 fixtures.
Share
