Marnus Labuschagne gets the nod to open as Australia name XI for WTC Final

Marnus Labuschagne gets the nod to open as Australia name XI for WTC Final

Marnus Labuschagne will open the batting with Usman Khawaja for Australia in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's, captain Pat Cummins has confirmed.

The 30-year-old Labuschagne, who averages more than 46 with the bat in 57 Tests but has never opened the batting in the longest format, moves to the top of the order to accommodate the return of Cameron Green.

The WTC final will be Green's first Test match in more than year as the all-rounder sat out due to having back surgery and Cummins confirmed that he will bat at number three.

The 26-year-old Green has been in great form leading into the showpiece game at Lord's having struck three centuries in five First-Class matches for English county side Gloucestershire.

Cummins told reporters on the eve of the match: "Cam Green, the last few weeks, he's had coming back in great form, we thought he deserves a spot somewhere in the batting line-up.

"We thought three probably suits him best, and then with Marnus moving, we thought it's one spot up, it's not too different to batting at three. He's done well here in England in the past.

"All the boys have trained well, him, Sam and Josh Inglis have all trained really well but I thought selectors went with Marnus' experience and done well here at Lord's and England in general."

Josh Hazlewood edged out Scott Boland as the third seamer alongside Cummins and Mitchell Starc while Australia have opted to select all-rounder Beau Webster at number six ahead of specialist batter Josh Inglis.

Australia Test XI: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

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