Australia will unveil three new faces in the first Test against Pakistan in Dubai with skipper Tim Paine confirming a debut for Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne and a return to national honours for veteran paceman Peter Siddle.
Labuschagne has been selected at the expense of opener Matthew Renshaw and will bat at No.6 while Siddle has edged out the uncapped Michael Neser for the right to partner Mitchell Starc alongside spinners Nathan Lyon and Jon Holland.
Aaron Finch will make a first Test appearance opening alongside Usman Khawaja while Travis Head has also earned a debut Test berth and will bat at No.5 for the series-opener starting on Sunday.
The decision to overlook Renshaw comes after he failed to bat in this week's tour match against Pakistan A after being struck in the head while fielding on day two.
The left-hander batted in the nets on Thursday and Friday but concerns remained about his lack of match practice after suffering multiple injuries in recent months.
"He hasn't had enough cricket so the decision was made there to go with Marnus," Paine told reporters on Saturday.
"He's had a bit of an unlucky run, Renners, with injury. He missed a game in India and then he got hit on the head and couldn't bat in the last game. The decision was made that he just hasn't played enough cricket and Marnus has been playing quite a bit of cricket on the A tour.
"Obviously a lot of discussion about it but we think Marnus brings a lot to the group. He's a really good player of spin and we think as well his legspin will be something we can throw at the Pakistanis they might not be expecting."
Neser was selected ahead of Siddle for the tour match and bowled tidily but Siddle's vast experience and record of 211 wickets from 62 Tests proved impossible to overlook.
The 33-year-old hasn't played at Test level in almost two years but is a known quantity for an Australian side missing first-choice quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to injury.
"I think Sidds has been playing quite a bit of cricket and he's in good form," Paine said.
"We knew he was bowling really well in the lead-up, we just thought we'd give Nes a chance to play in that tour game and get some cricket into him.
"Obviously with the conditions over here we thought it was important he had a game under his belt in case we needed him in the second game."
AUSTRALIA XI: Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Tim Paine (capt), Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland.
