All-rounder Hilton Cartwright will make his debut for Australia in the third and final Test against Pakistan, starting Tuesday. Uncapped at international level, Cartwright comes in for underperforming batsman Nic Maddinson while spinner Steve O'Keefe replaces Jackson Bird in two changes to Australia's XI for the Sydney clash following its resounding > innings-and-18-run win in the Boxing Day Test.
Maddinson scored just 27 runs across four innings since making his debut against South Africa in November last year, opening the door for 24-year-old Zimbabwe-born batting all-rounder Cartwright.
> Read: Smith acknowledges Cartwright improvement ahead of debut
Cartwright has only played 16 first-class matches, scoring 890 runs at an average of 44.50, while taking 15 wickets, and he will help ease the load on leading quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with Australia leading 2-0 and seeking a series whitewash. Veteran orthodox spinner O'Keefe, 32, has the opportunity to add to his three Test appearances.
Bird claimed four wickets in Melbourne, having taken six in the opening match in Brisbane, but O'Keefe has been given the nod on a turning wicket alongside fellow spinner Nathan Lyon. Captain Steve Smith also confirmed on Monday that wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will bat at No. 7.
Australia XI: David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Steve O’Keefe, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.
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